“Yes, Olivia’s great with him. But why’s he anxious?” Megan hated seeing her father nervous. He was an all-round great guy, her rock, and as she’d grown from child to adult their relationship had only deepened. She loved him with all her heart.

“He’s about to give away his eldest daughter, of course he’s anxious. He’s not so keen on giving away something so precious to him.” Iris laughed but it held a note of tension. “And you most certainly are precious to him, Rose.”

“Maybe he should look at it like he’s gaining a son rather than giving away a daughter,” Brendon said, ruffling Gucci’s forehead so his fudge-coloured curls stood upright.

“I suppose,” Iris said, sucking in a deep breath. “Yes, maybe that’s how to look at it.”

Megan studied her. She looked worried. Likely because Dad was stressed, even though he needn’t be, he only had to walk a few steps down the aisle—not that she wouldn’t be glad of his arm. Georgie was right, those heels, while stunning and one of her best designs yet, were hard to negotiate.

“Can you do me up?” Georgie asked, stepping in front of Megan. She’d pulled on her baby pink bridesmaid dress but the back zip was awkward for her to reach.

Megan slid it up. Georgie’s hourglass frame suited the figure-hugging style perfectly and reminded her of a Marilyn Monroe photograph she’d seen once. Not least because Georgie’s bubbles of blonde hair had just been cropped to jaw-length.

“Oh, Georgie,” Iris said, “that dress is amazing on you. The colour is gorgeous with your skin tone and your eyes…simply stunning.”

“Thank you,” she said, turning back to Iris. “I’m glad Megan didn’t pick lime green, I couldn’t have pulled that off.”

“I bet you could have worked lime green perfectly well.” Megan laughed, though it was slightly forced because underneath Georgie’s smile she knew there was a hint of longing. She wanted what Megan was about to have, a husband. But it would come soon, she was sure of it. Tom would eventually get around to it and bag the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“What about us?” Brendon said, striding in front of the mirror.

Gucci ran around his ankles, yapping as usual and hoping to be picked up again.

“How do we look?”

“Like the handsomest, gayest bridesmaid ever,” Georgie said then laughed.

Megan reached to tickle Gucci beneath his chin but he wouldn’t stay still for long enough, and besides, she could hardly reach him because of the dress. “And the handsomest doggie bridesmaid ever.”