‘We don’t have mackerel for dinner, do we?’ Zoe interrupted desperately, trying to hide the panic in her voice.

‘Of course we do, Zo. In fact, it’s a mackerel-themed—’

Malie’s hysterical giggle cut through the menu Lily was about to make up on the spot, and Zoe’s eyes went from wide-eyed horror to fury quicker in milliseconds.

‘You knew?’ she demanded in a threatening whisper. ‘All this time and you knew?’ Lily laughed as her friend’s voice rose an octave.

‘I would say, had a good idea rather than knew,’ Lily replied nonchalantly. ‘No mackerel,’ she mock whispered to Zoe.

‘Good. I can’t stand the bloody things.’

Victoria reached over and poured a glass of sparkling wine for each of them as Malie dug around in the coolers.

‘Ten years ago we were here talking of all the things we would do with our lives. The people we would meet, the places we would go. And we did it! Look! We’re all here.’

‘And you’re getting married,’ Zoe, Malie and Lily chimed in.

‘OK, seriously, I know I’m getting married, you don’t have to remind me all the time. But yes …’ She broke off laughing. ‘Oh my God, I’m getting married!’

‘You know, if we just had some vodka, we could do shots every time someone says—’

‘To you and Ollie,’ Zoe said heavily, interrupting Malie and raising her glass in a toast.

‘To V and Ollie!’

A silence settled over the four of them as they each took their sips of the Reserve and just looked at each other, relishing the bonds of friendship that drew them together.

‘OK, now I want to hear about the orgasms,’ Malie insisted, and Lily nearly choked.

‘Hope you didn’t do that last night,’ Zoe threw out.

‘Zo!’ Lily cried.

‘I’m just really happy for you,’ Victoria said, grabbing Lily’s hands. ‘You deserve it, Lils.’

‘I … Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Henry might still sell the estate and fly back off to Singapore or New York.’

‘Oh my God, you could go to New York?!’ Malie cried.

‘Not so fast,’ Lily said, laughing until it petered out. Because in truth, she really didn’t know whether Henry, or even she wanted that. ‘Hawke’s Cove is my home.’

‘And it won’t stop being your home, just because you spend a bit of time elsewhere, Lils,’ Zoe replied, taking the hand that Victoria wasn’t holding.

‘Says the woman who is living in Sydney and flying all around the globe at a moment’s notice,’ Lily said gently.

Malie and Victoria went suddenly quiet, causing Lily to frown at the group.

‘What?’ Zoe’s eyes became as wide as saucers, and she cast a panicked look to Malie, who looked at Victoria. ‘Seriously, guys, what’s going on?’

‘Nothing,’ all three girls replied at once.