‘Mental space? This is your wedding we’re talking about Lotts. You can’t leave your final fitting to the weekend. You’re getting married in eight days, fuck’s sake. What if something happens? You’ve already got the shrinks.’

‘Oh, come on, they’ve measured me twenty times already. We all know they can just send the dress as it is. These fittings are just fluff to justify their prices. It’ll be fine.’

‘And fine’s good enough for your wedding day, is it?’

‘Yes, it really is. It’s one dress for one day! I really don’t . . .’ She sighed, almost collapsing in on herself.

‘Care?’ There was a long pause as Charlotte realized she didn’t have the strength to argue back. Was that really what she’d been about to say? She didn’t even know herself.‘Look, sis, I’m worried about you.’

‘I’m telling you I’m fine! I wish everyone would stop trying to pick me apart.’

‘But you haven’t been yourself lately. You’re . . . distant, all limp.’

Charlotte closed her eyes, feeling her heart begin to thump. ‘I told you, work’s crazy, that’s all.’

‘Yeah you said, I just don’t believe you. I spoke to Rosie earlier and asked if you’d booked any time off next week and she said you’ve got a meeting booked in the morning of.’

‘I agree, it’s not ideal, but they just quickly need me—’

‘Oh, drop the bollocks, Lotts!’ Mouse said, losing patience now. ‘If you’re having second thoughts about the wedding, just tell me. There’s still time to call it off.’

Charlotte gave a shocked bark of scorn. ‘Why would I be having second thoughts? I love Stephen. He’s great. We’re a great team.’ There was another long silence down the line. ‘. . . Mouse? You still there?’

‘. . . Yeah. Yeah, I’m here.’ She gave a heavy sigh, a distinctly un-Mouselike sound. ‘I just don’t want you to make a mistake, that’s all. You do know that if you need to talk face to face, I can catch the next flight?’

‘You’re sweet.’

This time it was Mouse’s turn to bark with scorn. ‘No I’m not. I’m the bad sister who kisses too many boys and stays out too late. You’re the sweet one – and that’s why I’m worried. We all know I wouldn’t marry a man I didn’t really love.’

Charlotte felt like she’d been shot, the words physically pushing her back from the balcony and into the apartment. ‘. . . You can’t say that,’ she said in a quiet voice, squeezing her eyes shut.

‘I know,’ Mouse replied, just as quietly, just as sadly. ‘So how come I just did?’

‘You’re back!’ Marina greeted Charlotte in surprise as she stepped through the cafe door the next morning.

‘You do good coffee,’ Charlotte said simply, lapsing easily into her accented Spanish.

‘You’d like a coffee?’

God yes, she needed coffee. ‘Along with a plate of churros and chocolate, yes please.’

Marina nodded in affirmation but she was regarding Charlotte quizzically, no doubt still mulling over their oblique conversation yesterday and the overly large tip. ‘Sure.’