‘Missed what?’ Lily asked, confused.

‘No, you’re just in time,’ replied Zoe. ‘I’m staging an intervention.’

‘Another one?’ Lily asked, thinking back to Zoe’s last unnecessary intervention after Malie had finally realized she was totally, one hundred per cent, head over heels in love with Todd Masters.

‘Yes. Because it’s been three weeks, Lils.’

Lily’s stomach roiled.

‘Have you told V yet?’ Malie asked gently.

‘Told V about what?’ Lily replied, folding the icing and punching at it again.

‘Lily Atwell. You are brilliant, amazing and beautiful, but also one hundred per cent deep in a river in Egypt!’ Zoe cried down the phone.

‘I’m not in denial, Zo,’ Lily exclaimed, letting out a puff of air as she switched to the rolling pin.

‘What time is it, Lils, and what on earth are you doing?’

‘It’s 6.30 and I’m making icing.’

‘Really?’

‘Not the point, Malie,’ Zoe interrupted. ‘Listen. Lils, it’s getting serious now. And if you don’t fix this, I’m going to come down there and—’

‘What, you’re going to get on a plane from Sydney and come all this way?’

‘No,’ Zoe replied after a strange pause, ‘Of course not. But this can’t carry on. V needs to know that she can’t have the wedding at the Hawkesbury estate.’

‘No she doesn’t,’ Lily insisted, which was met by a loud and painfully audible groan. ‘She doesn’t. Because I’m going to make it happen. I am.’

‘How, Lils?’ Malie asked, the doubt in her tone undermining Lily’s determination. ‘He’s already said no.’

‘Well, I’m going to make him say “yes”.’

‘Have you seen him?’

‘Not since …’

No. Absolutely not! No way.

Henry’s last words on the matter cut through her mind, making her want to lash out with the rolling pin.

‘Lils, listen. It’s not the end of the world.’

‘But it’s what Blake wanted,’ Lily replied both sadly and stubbornly, the ache in her chest expanding once again for the loss of her friend. But he’d been more than that. Boss, mentor … none of the words seemed to do enough justice to what he’d been to her.

Father figure.

‘I know, honey. But Blake isn’t here anymore.’ Malie’s words were said kindly, but they rubbed at a wound not even begun to heal and Lily hiccupped against a bubble of grief. ‘Look, do you want me to come back early? I could find someone to cover and—’

‘No, Malie,’ Lily interrupted. ‘Honestly, you don’t need to do that. I know you have things to finish up before you come home.’