By the time Lily got back to her flat above the restaurant, she was beaming. The trial run of each of the dishes for the wedding breakfast had been almost perfect. Just a few touches to the seasoning and the plating, but Annabelle and her team had brought her menu to life with as much care and attention as if she’d been the one cooking it herself.

Despite her grumbling, Annabelle had been happy with the thirty sponges, all of which would be iced and decorated first thing in the morning. It was Lily’s favourite bit of the menu. Lime and blackberry sponge with buttercream icing and decorated with a half-moon of blackberries and edible flowers and micro herbs. Even Annabelle had been impressed.

She flung off her clothes and popped into the shower to quickly wash away the heat and mess from the kitchen, and put on the dress that Victoria had made her years before. The one she’d worn for the VIP tour at the estate, knowing how much her best friend would love seeing her in it.

She checked her watch and yelped. She felt as if she were playing catch-up the entire day and it made her laugh. She really was never usually like this. Always on time, if not early. Always ready and prepared. But last night with Henry had allowed a different part of herself to come alive. One that was a little reckless, a little more free and … she liked it. Really liked it.

She realized that usually she’d be terrified of not knowing what would greet them on the beach for the hen party, but this way she got to join in with the excitement, the surprise. Lily felt as if she were getting as much of a treat as the girls and she was thrilled!

Which reminded her …

She left through the back door and walked around to the front of the restaurant to where the sign in the doorway declared ‘Closed for a private event’. She realized that she hadn’t actually been in her kitchen for a couple of days now. And strangely she hadn’t missed it. She truly trusted Kate and Vihaan with her business, and was beginning to quite enjoy having some free time. For a second, she began to imagine what she could do if she gave herself more time. Perhaps do some of the travelling that Henry had suggested. Only it hadn’t just been Henry, but also her mother and even Victoria. Had they all been trying to tell her the same thing? That she needed to put herself out there a bit more?

She was just about to check her watch when she saw a familiar black SUV approach the restaurant. Through the window she could just make out Zoe and frowned. Could there really be two black SUVs with people in the front passenger seats that looked like her?