It wasn’t until the marriage service was over and guests filed out of the church and they stood around in the wintry cold while the photographer took an age taking the required photos, that Ellis spotted Naomi beneath the extravagantly large brim of a navy-blue hat she was doing her best to hold on to in the blustery wind. From the moment he had realised who the bride was – that it was Naomi’s best friend from their university days together – he’d craned his neck in the pew to see if she was there, but had drawn a blank. She later told him that she’d been seated at the front and hidden from view by a pillar.

Leaving the girl he’d come with chatting to a group of other guests, the photographer still ordering people about to have their picture taken, Ellis had gone over to say hello to Naomi. Such was his delight at seeing her again, he was tempted to approach her from behind, put his hands over her eyes and say, ‘Guess who!’ But he checked himself and instead approached with the words, ‘Hello Naomi, long time no speak.’

‘Ellis!’ she’d exclaimed, ‘what a surprise to see you here.’

‘A good surprise, I hope.’

She smiled. ‘A lovely one.’

They did the usual thing of kissing cheeks, no small feat given the size of her hat, and saying that neither of them had changed, then asking exactly how long it had been since they’d last seen each other.

‘It must be five years,’ she said.

‘Seven,’ he said.

‘Really?’

‘Really,’ he repeated. ‘And that’s some hat you’re wearing,’ he added as a gust of wind nearly ripped it from her head and she had to hold on to it with a gloved hand.

‘It was an absurd choice, especially given the weather,’ she said.

‘I think it’s great and easily marks you out as the most strikingly beautiful woman here.’ To his satisfaction he saw her blush.

‘Don’t let the bride hear you speak like that,’ she said, ‘no one is supposed to gain more attention than her.’

‘And talking of the bride, I had no idea whose wedding it was until I saw the order of service and Geraldine walk up the aisle with her father.’ He then explained the hows and the whys of his being there.

‘Where is your date?’ she asked.

Who cares? he wanted to say, now that I know you’re here. He indicated over his shoulder to where he’d left her.

‘She’s pretty,’ Naomi said, ‘but then you always did pick a pretty face.’

Ignoring the comment, he said, ‘It really is great seeing you again. Why didn’t we ever stay in touch?’

‘I suppose you graduating a year before I did meant our paths then went off in separate directions.’

‘I wish they hadn’t,’ he said softly. ‘We always had so much fun together.’ A flood of memories came rushing back to him – of student parties that went on till dawn, of incomprehensible treasure hunts that involved most of them getting hopelessly lost, and of a skiing trip that ended with one of their group of friends being airlifted to hospital with a broken wrist and leg.