‘Oh my God, are you actually about to tell me you haven’t put thought into a date?’ she interrupted me. Her eyes were narrowed in such a way that she had a predatory look, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cower. Molly had never been the stern one in the group, but the wedding malarkey was bringing out some interesting shades …

‘What I was actually going to say is that I’m not dress shopping without everyone being here.’

‘Rowan can’t be here,’ she snapped.

Cora huffed and tapped Molly on the side of the forehead, as though checking for signs of life. ‘Earth to Molly, she means our other friends. The girls who we talk to every day, the ones we’re literally about to meet for a romantic dinner for six?’

‘Oh. Oh, them.’ She took another look at the window. ‘Fine, whatever. Betty needs new boots. She told me they’d head to Wear ’Em Out and we should look for them around there.’

I linked arms with Molly. ‘Then that’s where we’ll go, and we’ll come to look at the pretty dresses in the pretty shop window on a day when we’re all together.’

‘But we are all—’

‘God in heaven, Molly.’ Cora looped her other arm. ‘Leave it.’

Molly talked about different styles, cuts and colour options for my wedding dress on the way to meet the others. But she promptly stopped when they were within hearing distance. Hugs were exchanged and Betty – who by then had already bought a new set of knee-highs that she seemed especially happy with – suggested we head towards the high street. Out of the boutiques and into the daily-wear shops, we soon scattered in our separate directions: Primark; New Look; H&M. We met up for half-hourly check-ins, though, partly to get each other’s opinions on clothes but mostly to assess each other’s hunger levels.

‘Can we just eat already?’ Lily eventually said, in a whine that we all recognised as a sign of her growing hanger. ‘Lucky Dragon is—’

‘Where I’ve booked the table, yes,’ I interrupted her.

‘Did I tell you lately that I love you?’ she answered in a sing-song voice.

I cupped her cheek and gave her a dramatic, loving look. ‘But you tell me every day. Onto the main business though, beauts, it’s right at the start of serving time, so if we head there now we can really make the most of the buffet.’

‘Gets my vote,’ Betty added.