Just as I’m walking up the beautiful staircase back to my room, Lauren Pearce appears at the top. It startles me … she is a real person. Of course I knew that, but here she is, skin and bones, right in front of me. It’s harder to dislike someone when you see them in the flesh. The reality of everything you created about them in your head now challenged as their eyes move, and their skin breathes, and they become actual people, instead of objects I have worked on. She has a nervous demeanour. She is delicate and pretty. She is wearing a white tracksuit, her hair tonged to perfection. I won’t have to do much to it today. I had always imagined her to be more bolshy, or loud, or overconfident, but she is gentle and timid. Her smile spreads across her face as she sees someone behind me. She runs quickly past.

‘Dad, you’re here,’ she says, as she throws her arms around him.

I can’t believe what I am seeing as the man approaches, the coincidence hitting me like a cosmic message I know must mean something. I hurry back to my room. I don’t want him to see me.

Beth

‘Double-check that the favours are to the left of the forks please. And that the leaves with the names are in the middle of the napkin. Oh, and then do the chairs. Five inches from the table, no less, no more. It’s what she wants.’

I have everything in order, I think. I am waiting for the last-minute drama, there always is one.

‘Hey boss, so Tom the magician is ill, but he’s sending a replacement. I’ve forwarded the NDAs and I’m waiting for them to be emailed back to me. I made it clear no one is allowed on site until they have sent one through. Just letting you know,’ says Risky, reeking of efficiency. I’m very glad for it.

‘OK, that’s OK. If he’s weird or crap at magic, we just send him home. Simple. Shame about Tom, he’s good. Anything else?’

‘The florist just gave me the buttonholes for the groomsmen …’ She is holding a tray with them laid out. She stands looking at me as if waiting for approval. ‘Shall I go and give them to them, or do you want to?’

Ah, she is asking me if she is allowed to go and see Gavin and his brother. ‘Give them to me, I’ll …’ There is a massive crash in the marquee. It sounds like glass. A lot of glass. ‘Shit!’ I say, running over to see what happened. ‘OK, go and give them to him. And then leave!’

‘Yes boss.’ I see a cheeky smirk on Risky’s face that she immediately tries to hide.