‘Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, we’re stopping here temporarily as there’s a train ahead of us at Christchurch station and we’re just waiting for it to pull out. We’ll hopefully be moving again in a few minutes.’

Douglas looks at his watch.

‘I’ve still got plenty of time.’

‘Are you meeting Joel and Verity in Bournemouth?’

‘Yes, they’ve got a room in a hotel to get ready.’

It hadn’t really occurred to me that they wouldn’t be at the registry office when I arrived, or that Joel might be with Verity already. In fact, I hadn’t thought much about the logistics at all.

‘Edie, you’re looking agitated; are you OK?’

‘Uh-huh, just, you know, I don’t like it when trains stop. It means it’ll be a bit late.’

‘Right, for your weekend, down at Westerly.’

‘Uh-huh, yep, lots of relaxing to do there and don’t want to miss a moment.’

‘Right,’ he says slowly.

Before Douglas can probe any further I ask him what he’s up to over the weekend, and I listen to him rattling off his plans. I’m trying to pay attention but all I can think of is how I have zero idea what I’m going to do when I get off the train. How the hell am I going to do this? How am I going to get Joel alone to talk to him? I can’t rock up to their hotel suite, and, come to think of it, I couldn’t be that person who breaks up a wedding when it’s in progress either.

‘Earth to Edie,’ calls Douglas.

I look up.

‘Sorry, I was miles away.’

‘Already in Westerly?’ he asks.

‘Something like that.’

‘Good morning, ladies and gentleman, this is your guard speaking again. I apologise that we are now twenty minutes behind schedule. This is due to a train that is stopped in Christchurch station. The train has broken down and will need to be moved before we are able to pull into the station. We’ve also got two other trains in front of us. I can only apologise for this delay and we are working to get you on your way as quick as we are safely able.’

Douglas looks down at his watch and pulls out his phone.

‘I don’t want Joel to think I’ve gone on an early morning bender now, do I?’

He puts the phone to his ear and I can’t react quickly enough, terrified that Douglas is about to tell him that I’m here.

‘Hey mate, it’s me. I’m on the train, I’m going to be a bit late as there’s a broken-down train, but I’m on my way … Not sure, we passed Winchester a little while ago and we’ve been waiting for twenty minutes already … Yes, I’m OK. I’m actually—’