‘I was selfish and so confused, Charlotte,’ he said to me, as he sat before me in his dapper navy suit, white shirt and pale blue tie. He’d dyed his hair the most hideous yellow for the occasion, but it was a glimpse of his old character coming through again so we all loved it. ‘I was an arrogant prat, to be honest, but I was also very much besotted with a man I knew I could never have. I don’t think I could ever go through that again.’

He gulped back tears.

‘Oh, Matthew!’

I didn’t want to interrupt him too much. I knew how difficult this must be for him, yet therapeutic at the same time to get it all off his chest.

‘My attraction for Tom was a huge wake-up call that my sexuality wasn’t as straightforward as I’d hoped it would be, pardon the pun. But I should have got over myself and given you both a chance. He didn’t want me, he wanted you. I know I’m way too late in saying this, but I’m so very sorry.’

I clasped his hands in mine and rubbed them to warm them up, always feeling that unconditional urge to protect and look after him. The evening was creeping in and the temperature had dropped substantially also. That’s the thing about Irish weather – four seasons in one day and all that.

‘I appreciate you saying this,’ I told him, looking into his eyes which were a mirror image of my own. ‘But we don’t have to keep living in the past, so let’s keep focused and move on to a great, great future. Look at where we both are now, eh? You have Martin, I have Jack. We are—’

‘Are you happy, Charlotte? Really happy?’

I paused. I smiled. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and I breathed out.

‘Of course I’m happy,’ I told my big brother. ‘It’s my wedding day so of course I’m happy. Now don’t worry about me ever again, and let’s keep going forward.’

He looked away and then back at me, holding his head up high.

‘I’m not going to be in this wheelchair forever, you know,’ he told me with tears in his eyes. ‘I feel like such a loser, not being able to dance with my sister on her wedding day.’

I shook my head, willing my own emotions not to show. ‘You’re going to ruin my make-up if you keep going, you rascal! Don’t go making me cry, now! You will walk again. You’re too stubborn not to.’

Matthew gripped my hands when I went to let go. He wasn’t finished.