‘It’s not fine for me,’ Helen said. ‘Water, please, but the fanciest you have.’

‘I’m grand with champagne.’ Artie, in jeans and a shirt that could definitely have done with an iron, had joined our cluster.

‘Good of you to dress up, bro,’ Adam said to Artie.

With a quiet smile, Artie said, ‘Always.’

Very cool, Artie was. Impossible to rattle.

‘So three waters?’ the server said.

‘Er, before you go.’ Anxiously, Adam lunged at her tray. ‘I’ll take a second glass for my…because I drink quickly. Anna! Hey! And Angelo! Hello!’

Poor Adam was almost as uncomfortable around Angelo as he was with Luke.

Into my ear, Anna said, ‘One of us should go over and talk to Luke. This can’t be easy for him. When I say “one of us”, I mean you, Rachel.’

It was actually a relief to get an order to approach him. It didn’t make me as tragic as if I’d decided off my own bat. Not that he’d know the difference. ‘Okay. Going.’

Nervously, I infiltrated the circle of aunties, stood next to Luke and said, ‘Hey.’

He jumped and turned around. ‘Hey!’ His face shifted from serious to an unexpectedly sweet smile. After a speedy scan of my dress, he said, ‘You look gorgeous.’

‘No need to sound so surprised.’ Quickly, I added, ‘I’m joking.’

‘Where’s Quin?’

‘Not here.’

‘Is he…okay?’

‘I…Just…I don’t really know…’

He didn’t speak, just stared, appearing troubled.

A shift in energy pulled my attention away—Kate and Devin! Kate in the midnight-blue dress, the boned bodice figure-hugging and narrow, the skirt a tulle explosion, Devin in an eighties-style suit in the same colour. They’d come as a matching set and they were dazzling.

As they moved through the room, people were doing second takes, wondering why this duo was so captivating. Oh, I see, they’re young and in love. Well, isn’t this a beautiful thing to witness.

Luke frowned. ‘Is that…one of your dresses?’ He looked upset. ‘I remember when you used to—’

‘No, don’t, please,’ I said. ‘Let’s not be sad. Just for tonight?’

‘I don’t know if I can.’ Then, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a try—Angelo! My man!’

‘Heeeeey!’ With man-hugs and backslaps, Angelo annexed Luke. Back in the day, they had been matey.

‘And Anna!’ Luke took Anna’s knuckles and kissed them, then they hugged each other. Of all of my sisters, Anna was closest to Luke, probably because they’d both lived in New York. Oh, and here came Claire, looking for her piece of the Costello action.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed—Mum was five minutes out! Claire, Anna and Helen had got the same text and nervous energy infused us all.