The three of us put our arms around each other and our heads together.

“I always knew this day would come,” Kate says softly. “That we’d be bridesmaids for each other’s big days. And even though the circumstances aren’t what you’d call normal, or ideal, this is still your big day, Ava. And we’re here for you, whatever you need.”

“Yeah.” Amanda sniffs loudly. “What she said.”

“And I love you both too. Thank you for being the most amazing friends. I wouldn’t have had half as good a life as I have, without you two.”

We smile at each other, a little soppily, before Kate breaks apart the circle.

“Right,” she says, businesslike once more. She goes to a chiller box and opens it, revealing our large white bouquets.

“Hydrangeas!” I squeal.

“Did you think we’d forget?” Amanda says. “Believe me, you went on about it enough that every detail has been seared into our brains for life.”

Kate checks the clock over the oven. “OK, girls, you ready?”

We all look at each other and smile.

“Ready.”

“Ready.”

She passes us our flowers. “Then let’s do this.”

There’s a knock on the door and Kate looks at me, puzzled.

“Are you expecting anyone?”

“It’s probably just a guest who got confused and came here instead of parking at the reserve,” Amanda says impatiently. “Leave it; they’ll figure it out.”

“That’s not very nice,” Kate scolds her. She opens the door.

“Hi, I’m your photographer. The magazine sent me.”

And even though it is not his voice, I can’t help how my heart quickens. Then he steps into the room. Tall and thin, with black hair pulled back into a slick man bun. He’s carrying a bag and wearing a smile that seems genuine, even if his cultivated look is not.

“Ava?” he asks. “I’m Steve Gunning. I’ll be your photographer for today.”

“Is he wearing…eyeliner?” Amanda mutters to me.

“I think so.”

“Hot.” She flicks her plait and smiles coyly at him. He blatantly looks her up and down and, judging by the way his top lip curls up in one corner, he clearly likes what he sees.

He is the absolute polar opposite of my sweet James, and he makes my eyes hurt.

Kate gives me a concerned look. “Are you OK with this? I can tell him to leave if you’re not.”

I breathe in and out, steadying myself. “No, it’s OK. We agreed to let the magazine cover this and I’m not going to back out now.”

“Great.” Steve strides in.

“We were actually just on our way out, to the ceremony,” Amanda tells him. She has adopted her flirtatious manner. Kate rolls her eyes at me.

“I won’t hold you up long.” He puts his bag on the table and unzips it, then pulls out a camera with a lens so long Kate whispers to me that surely it has to be compensating for something. “Let me just get a few quick shots of you three first, the bridal party.”