‘No,’ Lily said, thinking of the horror that night would turn into. Of how it would affect them all. And not just them. Henry too. Henry who had made an app so that people like Claudia – people hurting and in pain – could find some support. Some help. He’d taken their tragedy and made something beautiful from it. Just like Victoria, just like Zoe and Malie.

‘But we didn’t let it define us,’ Victoria pressed on. ‘And we’re still smiling.’

‘Yes, we are,’ Lily replied, a warmth spreading through her. ‘V, you’re getting married!’ she cried, feeling the sheen of happy tears against her eyelids.

‘I am,’ Victoria spun, her smile stretching into pure excitement and glee.

‘So let me see that dress!’ commanded Lily.

‘OK, OK,’ she replied, returning to the garment bag. ‘Listen, obviously I know your measurements but it might need some tweaks, and—’

‘Stop stalling. Gimme!’ She held out her hand, her fingers opening and closing over her palm with impatience.

Victoria pulled down the zipper and gently drew out the swathe of sage-green-coloured silk.

A gasp fell from Lily’s lips as Victoria held it up against her body so that Lily could see the dress.

‘It’s beautiful!’ Lily cried as she took the beautiful skirts in her hands. The cool silk swam over her skin and poured down towards the floor as she ran her hands beneath the gorgeous material.

‘You’re all in slightly different styles. Yours is a V-neck,’ Victoria said, gesturing to the top half of the dress.

‘V. Seriously, this is stunning,’ Lily sighed, unable to keep the awe from her voice.

‘Well, it will be if it fits,’ Victoria replied, biting her lip a little as she studied her creation.

‘It will. I’m sure of it. OK,’ she said, reaching for the fridge in the small kitchenette. ‘You open this.’ She retrieved a bottle of Hawkesbury Reserve and passed it to Victoria in exchange for the beautiful dress. She couldn’t wait to try it on. ‘I’ll be back in a sec.’

‘Didn’t you just tell the boys that they weren’t allowed to drink?’

Lily couldn’t help but snort. ‘And if you think for one minute that they’ll not be, then I’m more than happy to take that back—’

‘Nope! It’s mine,’ Victoria said of the sparkling wine. ‘It’s my precious,’ she hissed in an exaggerated voice.