‘You know I will.’ Hannah laughed. Wedding arrangements had been underway for more than a year. Leesa’s dress was a secret from the groom. The shiny bridesmaids’ outfits were hanging in bags in the home of Leesa’s parents. Hannah’s was a delicate colour of creamy peach. The gown of Jemima, Leesa’s sister, was a shade darker as if to let everyone know she bore the exalted title of maid of honour. Mo had been prepared to battle on Hannah’s behalf over the perceived implication that the sister of the bride was more important than the sister of the groom but Hannah had firmly restrained her. Maybe peachy-cream was more Jemima’s colour than creamy-peach.

The other bridesmaids were Jemima’s daughters Saffi and Raya and Leesa’s best friend Amanda Louise Meller. Hannah knew little about her except she always insisted on being called the full ‘Amanda Louise’. Leesa had whispered to Hannah that her friends called her ‘Meller-drama’ when she wasn’t there to hear.

The bridesmaids’ ‘dresses’ were actually jumpsuits, Hannah had been dismayed to discover. OK, it was dramatic and different but jumpsuits made going to the loo a pain. It had been Amanda Louise’s idea. Maybe she had the bladder of a horse. She certainly drank because when they’d had the final fitting at the bridal shop she’d put away three glasses of champagne followed by a bottle of wine over lunch.

From Hannah’s laptop screen, Jeremy’s eyes twinkled beneath his receding fringe as he made his first contribution to the conversation. ‘The camper van’s ready! Can’t wait to start our travels after the do. And did you know Rob’s invited Nico Pettersson to the wedding? You remember him, don’t you?’

Hannah nodded. ‘I was about to say – he called at the shop this weekend because he’s in Stockholm on business.’ She described Nico revamping Hannah Anna Butik, rather than mentioning that Rob had sent Nico to check up on her. Mo’s default setting was to worry about Hannah and it would fuel that if she realised Rob was worried too. Probably nobody in the family believed Albin couldn’t make the wedding because of work but were pretending to accept it out of respect for Hannah’s feelings … and they, and the aunts, uncles, cousins and old friends would enjoy it better without him. Hannah added, ‘Apparently Nico and his daughter Josie are booked into Port Manor.’

‘Rob didn’t tell me Nico would stay at the hotel itself.’ Mo sounded aggrieved at the oversight. ‘Did he tell you, Jeremy?’

Hannah’s dad shook his head. ‘Don’t think so.’ Jeremy frequently made non-committal responses such as ‘don’t think so’ or ‘not that I remember’ in the face of his spouse’s forceful commentary on life. He was a dear, delightful dad and Mo holding so many opinions probably saved him the bother of forming his own.