I put everything out on the floor then began to place some of the items against each other to see how they looked. I cut up bits of fabric, bits of photos, switched the lights on when the light outside began to fade and, when I looked at my watch, six hours had gone by. The room looked a total mess. I quickly sent a text to Heather. Office is banned. Please don’t go up there in the morning. Am working on project and want to leave it all as it is and will continue work evenings and spare time.

45

‘You look fabulous,’ said Marcia when I came down to the hall in my wedding outfit the following Saturday morning. I’d borrowed a calf-length, pale blue silk dress from Freya which she had worn to a wedding last year, and Marcia had lent me a dove-grey pashmina to wear over it. A rope of pearls and earrings to match, grey shoes and handbag and I was ready.

‘Very elegant,’ said Pete.

The doorbell rang a moment later and Marcia opened it to let Michael in. He looked very handsome in a navy suit and silver silk tie. As soon as he saw me, he strode towards me and lifted me into a big hug, then groaned as if he’d pulled a muscle.

Pete and Marcia cracked up laughing. ‘None of us are as young as we used to be,’ said Pete.

‘You OK? I asked.

He laughed. ‘Absolutely, just not as fit as I was and you’re not as light.’

‘Cheek.’

‘Oh. No. I didn’t mean you’ve … oh, you know what I mean. I’m getting older, that’s what. You look great by the way.’

‘But are you OK? You look a little pale.’

‘Virus,’ he said. ‘Had an absolute stinker. I was in bed for weeks, can you believe it? No wonder I left for sunnier shores. Being bedridden like that reminded me of why I left in the first place.’

‘There has been a lot of it around,’ said Pete and gave him a hug. ‘But good to see you, man, it’s been years.’

‘Time for a coffee before you go?’ asked Marcia.

Michael glanced at his watch. ‘Maybe afterwards. I’m best man so I’ve got a few things to do when I get there so we’d better get going.’

Marcia opened the door for us. ‘Now don’t be late back,’ she joked as we headed for Michael’s car.

I laughed. ‘You do know I’m fifty, don’t you?’

We got into the car and soon we were on our way.

‘I haven’t even asked you where we’re going. Where is the wedding?’

‘Kentish Town,’ said Michael as he indicated the sky, ‘and look, the sky is blue, it’s springtime and I have a date with a beautiful girl. What could be better?’

‘You always were a smooth talker,’ I said.