I’ll probably live to regret it, but I can’t face her being involved in my career. It’s bad enough that she’s so entwined with Lachie’s, although I do know deep down that I should be more appreciative of all the work she gets him. He’d much rather be playing his music than working on a building site or behind a bar.

‘Are you having second thoughts?’ I ask apprehensively.

‘No!’ Bridget cries. ‘Of course I’m not! I just want you to kick back and enjoy yourself, not have to work.’

‘I will absolutely enjoy myself. Anyway, Rachel will be there, too.’

I was thrilled when Bridget managed to line up my former boss after I voiced concerns about my current lack of experience. Luckily, Bridget and Charlie are getting married midweek, so Rachel was free. She gave them a whopping great discount and was delighted to hear that I would be assisting her.

‘I spoke to her last week,’ I say with a smile. ‘I can’t wait to work with her again.’

‘I assure you, the feeling is mutual,’ she replies. ‘With Maria doing my make-up, it’ll be like old times.’

‘Any more thoughts on your hen night?’ I ask.

Last I heard, she still hadn’t made plans. Her friends have put forward so many suggestions – mostly involving European getaways – but so far, none of our ideas have been received with enthusiasm from our bride-to-be.

Now our blushing bride-to-be, I notice.

‘I’m not sure I really want one,’ she reluctantly admits.

‘What?!’ Bridget, turning down the chance to go out with her mates and get shitfaced?!

‘I know this is really, really sad,’ she continues bashfully, ‘but I just don’t want to be away from Charlie and April, even for one night.’

‘What has he done to you?’ I cry.

Her cheeks brighten further and I can’t help but laugh.

‘How do you cope when you have to go away for work?’ I ask, genuinely curious.

‘Charlie and April come with me,’ she replies, still sheepish. ‘I know I’ll have to work away from them sometimes, but I wouldn’t choose it,’ she reveals.

I laugh again. ‘I never, ever thought I’d see the day.’

‘Me neither,’ she replies.

It’s Lachie’s twenty-ninth birthday a week later. He wants to go out in Sydney for a big night, but at the last minute he’s asked to do a gig at a popular Manly haunt after the booked artist drops out. His friends are only too happy to go to his gig first before carrying on locally, so I head home straight after work to get ready and join him at the venue. I find him having a beer with a couple of his former builder buddies.

When we settled in Sydney, Lachie lined up a stint on a building site to help pay the rent, but he has enough gigging work now to get by. He’s stayed in touch with the guys he liked the most, though, including his former boss, Nathan, who’s propped up at the bar with him now.