‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I said, forcing a small laugh into my voice. ‘I was right here. You don’t get rid of me that easily.’ My eyes were now down, looking at the pages in front of me as I flipped onto the next day in my paper planner. ‘So, we have the cake-tasting at ten o’clock tomorrow morning and then, if it’s convenient, we could go to have a look round the castle straight from there. That way I can get a real idea of the space and liaise with Patrick and Peyton. I gather the photographer is someone they know too. Do you know anything about them? Are they local?’ I asked as I lifted my hot chocolate and gave a glance Lorcan’s way.

Our eyes met and he held the gaze for a moment before giving the tiniest headshake and lifting his mug to drain the last of his coffee.

‘No, I don’t. I don’t think Patrick knows too much about him either. Someone Peyton knows from back home apparently. I guess she knows what she’s doing.’

‘Hmm.’ I tapped my pen against my lip. ‘I always like to meet the contractors prior to the wedding if at all possible. Still, we can make it work, I’m sure. Do you know if he’s been over to visit the location at all?’

Lorcan shrugged and bent down to check on Bod.

‘OK. I’ll ask Peyton. If he hasn’t, I wonder if there’s any way we could get him one of these 360-degree videos? I mean, I assume he’s going to be coming over a few days prior to the wedding to check out the location in person. At least, I hope he is.’ I made another note on my planner.

I was talking to myself more than Lorcan, which was just as well as he clearly wasn’t listening. Bod was now on his lap, surveying the surrounding area much as his owner had been doing a short time ago. The dog looked so tiny sitting there.

‘How much bigger will he get?’

Lorcan’s eyes remained on Bod as his hand gently and lazily stroked over the dog, almost covering his entire body each time.

‘A little, but he’s almost there.’

‘He’s fully grown?’

‘Yep.’

‘He’s a poodle, yes? He’s very small.’

‘Size isn’t everything, Maddie.’ Lorcan looked up as I let out a sigh.

‘You know, for someone so large you have an incredible ability to act like a small child.’

‘Well, everyone has a talent, so they say. And Bod’s a toy poodle. Come on, ask it, then.’

‘Ask what?’

‘The question that’s practically falling out of those scarlet-red lips.’