Oh.

Anna stared hard at her reflection. Layers of midnight blue chiffon wrapped around to form a bodice, and then floated to just above the knee. Vertical rows of sequins glinted discreetly from the tiny pleats of the fabric, adding an almost imperceptible shimmer. She didn’t quite look like herself. She looked otherworldly, willowy. Like she’d just stepped out of a storybook. How did a dress do that? Maybe it really was worth the eye-watering price tag.

Gabi beamed, pleased with herself. ‘You said you needed something nice for Teresa’s party.’

‘It’s not just nice. It’s spectacular! I just don’t know about the—’

‘Don’t think about that. Some things are worth more than money.’ She grinned cheekily. ‘Aren’t you glad I didn’t make you get one from the last shop?’

Anna chuckled. ‘Definitely. I don’t think turning up in a wedding dress would endear me any further to my motherin-law.’

‘Hmm. You have a point there.’

‘I know that Spencer would have hated the idea that there was a rift, but I just can’t face her at the moment, Gabs. I just can’t.’ She turned and fiddled with the zip at the back of the dress. She wanted it off now. Somehow, it didn’t feel so fairy tale-ish anymore. ‘What did I do? What did I do to make her change like that?’

‘It’s not you, honestly. It’s her…’

‘That’s what Teresa says.’

‘See? We’re all on your side.’

Anna squeezed her friend and then returned to the fitting room. While she was changing, her phone buzzed in her handbag.

‘That man is besotted with you!’ Gabi said, as Anna pulled the curtain back and checked her phone. Gabi must have got a glimpse of the screen before Anna had turned around because she said, ‘Jeremy sent you a picture? Is it… naughty?’

‘No!’ Anna exclaimed, reminding herself of a rather prudish fourteen-year-old. Which, unfortunately, might not be far off base. She still didn’t feel inclined to do anything more than kiss him at the end of their date tonight.

Just to prove to herself that she wasn’t a completely spineless creature, she picked the hanger with the blue dress on and took it to the cash register. Behind her, Gabi let out a little whoop. Anna put her phone down on the counter to get her credit card out of her purse. Gabi tried to snatch it up to get a better look, but Anna was too fast for her.

‘I didn’t know Jeremy had a dog!’ Gabi exclaimed as Anna pressed the button to send her phone to sleep, hiding the picture message before she could read more. ‘Or one that was so… scruffy? Is that a word?’

Anna nodded. ‘It’s a word.’

In fact, it was a very good word for Lewis in that picture. Brody had sent one of his dog in an old-fashioned claw-footed tub. Lewis was covered in bubbles; obviously the next chapter in the story that had begun with a dip in the bog.