‘Oh… yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,’ Ellie said.

I found myself wishing, not for the first time, that she wasn’t quite so jumpy and highly-strung. If anything, she’d got worse since Mark had come on the scene. Most of the time she seemed to be either spaced out or apprehensive, as if she was anticipating some kind of disaster but didn’t think there was anything she could do to head it off.

‘The thing is, it’s second time round for both of us,’ Mum said. ‘It seems like the best way to do it is to keep it really low-key.’

‘But didn’t you have a really tiny wedding when you got married to Dad?’ I said. ‘I thought it was you and him and Grandma and Aunt Amanda, and that was it.’

‘Well, yes. And you were there, too, Ava. And you cried and Grandma had to take you out.’

‘Yeah. You told me. But anyway, it’s not like you had a massive celebration when you got married to Dad, I mean, Sean. This isn’t a contrast. It’s just more of the same.’

Mark said, ‘Did Sean take you to one of the best restaurants in London afterwards?’ I shook my head. ‘You see? It is different.’

I said, ‘But what about your friends? Like Karen, and all those other people you keep in touch with on Facebook. Wouldn’t some of them like to come?’

Mark and Mum did the conferring-look thing again. It was Mark’s turn to respond this time. He said, ‘The thing is, Ava, I know that at your age friendships seem very important, but as you get older that may change. If you’re busy with work and family life, you may not see your friends so often. And that’s just a natural part of getting older. Then sometimes things happen. Significant life events that may have a bearing on some of your friendships. Like getting divorced, for example.’

‘But none of Mum’s friends care that she’s divorced. I mean, they’re her friends, not Dad’s. I mean Sean’s.’ I stopped in my tracks. ‘Oh, I see. You’re talking about your friends. What happened? Did they all take your ex’s side when you split up or something? I thought that kind of thing only happened in school.’

‘Ava,’ Mum said warningly.

‘OK, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise it would be such a sensitive subject. Just trying to find out why you don’t want any guests at your wedding. Didn’t realise that would be offensive.’

Mum had gone very pink. She looked at me as though she might cry. ‘Please don’t spoil things, Ava,’ she said.

Ellie piped up, ‘But I can still be a bridesmaid, can’t I, Mum? You did say I could.’

‘I’m sure you can,’ Mum said.

‘Well, don’t look at me,’ I told them. ‘I don’t want to be one.’

‘You can be the only bridesmaid,’ Mum said to Ellie.

‘What are you going to wear, Mummy?’ Ellie wanted to know. ‘Will you have a proper wedding dress?’