Victoria looked on smiling as her friends opened their presents, and more squeals of delight rang out across the secluded beach.

‘No way,’ Malie demanded.

‘Is that a—’

‘Green sapphire?’ Lily interrupted Zoe in shock.

Lily gently fingered the beautiful golden necklace chain, on which hung a perfect little green sapphire twinkling in the setting sun.

She dropped onto one of the cushions, staring at the necklace.

‘Here,’ Malie said to Lily, passing her a cream envelope. ‘It’s addressed to you.’

She prised open the thick cartridge paper and retrieved the sleeve of paper, just about managing to hide her disappointment when she saw the signed name at the bottom. Not Henry’s, but Oliver’s.

‘Dear Lily,’ she read out loud for the girls. ‘We can’t thank you enough for all you have done for us and the wedding, including this amazing hen party. That V has such amazing friends as you, Malie and Zoe, was blessing enough, but the bond you all share is something that not only V, but I, too, have gained incredible joy from. I want each of you to wear these at our wedding. They’ll match V’s beautiful bridesmaids’ dresses perfectly, but will also unite you together in a way that has already been cemented through the years, with silk and sapphires. And hopefully when you wear these in the future it will remind you of the greatest gift each of you has given us on our wedding day. Your friendship, your love, and your support.’

‘I’m going to cry. I’m going to cry.’ Malie rushed out, flapping her hands at her eyes as if to dry the tears before they could be shed.

Lily felt exactly the same way, and reached a hand to clutch Victoria’s in hers.

‘Todd’s going to lose his mind. Ollie’s just set a massive precedent,’ Malie groaned.

‘I’m asking for diamonds when it’s your turn to be my bridesmaids,’ Zoe laughed.

‘Dibs on blue sapphires,’ Malie called.

Lily stayed silent, fixing the smile on her face so as not to betray her thoughts. She daren’t even hope for a wedding in her near future, even as the image of Henry standing beside her in front of the wedding arch crashed through her mind.

‘OK, hand them over,’ she demanded.

‘Whaaat? Noooo!’ cried Malie, ‘It’s mine. All mine!’

‘I just don’t want you to lose them before the wedding,’ she explained.

‘I’m not letting it out of my sight,’ hissed Zoe.

‘Give,’ she said, her hand reaching for the beautiful presents. Reluctantly they each handed over their necklaces for her safekeeping, while Victoria reached for the first bottle of Hawkesbury Reserve. The pop echoed around the beach and all the girls descended into fits of uncontrollable giggles.

‘Could you ever have imagined it? All the way back then, when we were here, catching mackerel—’