Folds of frail white silk shimmied around her as she pulled the dress over her head. When her face emerged, it was smudged but smiling.

“Just promise me one thing,” said Finn, pulling the zip up in one smooth, long tug. “And then I’ll shut up about it for the rest of time.”

“What’s that?”

“Promise you’re not marrying him so you’ll have enough money to look after me if I need it.”

She opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again. Their eyes met in the mirror for a moment, then she quickly looked away.

“No,” Finn said passionately. “No, I’m not having this.”

“Finn… ”

“I’m an adult. You don’t have to worry and plan and marry some twatty rich bloke.”

“It’s not that,” said Ava. “It’s not. It’s not. I promise it’s not. I’m sorry. You just took me by surprise.”

“You’re sure?”

“Get me my make-up bag,” she ordered, turning towards the mirror.

“She’s late.” Nate looked at Paul uneasily. Paul stood tall in his morning-suit, attractive and confident; but then, he’d seen Paul looking like that in front of clients when he’d been throwing up with nerves in a lay-by half an hour before.

“Bride’s privilege,” said Paul. “Five minutes.”

“The vicar’s trying to catch your eye.”

“Why do you think I’m looking serenely into the distance and admiring the stained glass windows?”

“You don’t think – no, never mind. Your mother’s hat’s amazing. Makes her look like the missing member of Mel and Kim.”

“You think she’s changed her mind, don’t you,” said Paul.

“What are you talking about?”

“You think she’s not going to turn up. Oh God, what am I going to tell everyone?”

“Of course she’ll be here, you lunatic,” said Nate, a little too robustly to be believable. “She loves you to bits. You’re the match made in heaven. Everyone says so.”

“Do they?” Paul looked heartened.

“Is she at home? I can nip out and give her a call.”

“She’s at her brother’s place. He probably hasn’t even got a phone.”

“Her brother?”

“Yeah, you know. Finn. Looks a lot like her, but darker. I can’t stand him. She’s like a different person with him, they get off into corners and giggle like a couple of mad people.” Paul bit at the skin around his fingers. “He’s giving her away.”

Nate looked at the front left-hand pew, empty even though there would be no-one coming to fill it.

“What happened to her parents, anyway?”

“Don’t know. She’s never said.”

“What, never?” Nate blinked. “Is that – is that normal?”

“Are you saying Ava’s not normal?” Paul’s glare was so fierce that the vicar looked at them in alarm.

“No! It’s just – well. A bit odd. Or maybe not. I don’t know. Why are we talking about this? Why haven’t you laid on any bridesmaids for me to shag?”

Paul forced a laugh. “Ava wanted a really simple wedding. Half an hour, a couple of witnesses and everyone piles down to the pub after. My mum wanted the full bells and whistles. So we agreed, we’d divide everything up and I’d organise the bits I was in charge of exactly how I wanted them.”