I think back to that day and try to remember it with happiness, but all I can truly recall is that before our wedding vows, I fainted. And when I came to, everything felt slightly… off. It’s haunted me ever since. If I’m honest, I think I wanted to organise this anniversary party to exorcise the past. To give myself the wedding I never really had the first time around. Since then, I haven’t quite been able to shake the feeling of sadness. Of longing for a missed milestone. I’d dreamed of an idyllic wedding day where every second would be a moment to cherish. A perfect day to start a perfect marriage with the perfect man. My heart hurts that I’ll never have that memory. That it’s spoiled.

‘Are you okay, Zoe?’ Madeline puts a hand on my arm. ‘You look a bit down.’

‘I’m fine.’ I give her a bright smile. But coming back here and talking about my wedding day has begun to unsettle me. I’m getting the oddest feeling that there’s something from that time I’m not quite remembering right.

As I’m picking at the edges of that buried memory, the waitress comes over with a tray of coffees and mini-desserts that look like pieces of art.

‘Here we are, ladies. Hope you’ve got plenty of room for these.’

I give myself a shake and resolve to put away my anxieties for now. To enjoy the rest of the day. I think I’m just feeling overwhelmed and emotional, that’s all. I need to focus on my family and on the fact that I’m celebrating a happy marriage. So what if my wedding day didn’t go exactly to plan? Everything turned out great in the end, and that’s what matters. And, anyway, this anniversary party will more than make up for it. I’m sure it will.

Three

NOW

A Christmas music mix competes with the roar of the hairdryers and the raucous chatter of customers and staff. The atmosphere in the salon is one of excitement tinged with pre-holiday mania.

‘I’m totally sick of Christmas already and we’ve still got three weeks to go.’ Becky tosses her mane of red curls over her shoulder and rolls her eyes dramatically.