‘Small sips,’ Celia instructs. She tells me something about make-up and Nick borrowing a phone charger. ‘Looks like you hit the back of your head on the desk on your way down. Do you feel nauseous at all?’

‘A little. Not too much. I’ve got an evil headache though.’

My mother-in-law to be rummages in her handbag and pulls out a packet of paracetamol. ‘Take a couple of these.’

I put the pills in my mouth one at a time, knocking each one back with a slug of water.

‘Maybe we should get you checked out?’ Malcolm runs a hand through his sparse grey hair. He turns to Toby. ‘She looks decidedly peaky, son.’

‘I know, but Mum said she’ll be okay,’ Toby replies, and I back him up.

‘Well, okay. But perhaps I should let Guy know. You might be unsteady on your feet as he walks you down the aisle.’ Malcolm turns to leave.

Toby stands and puts a hand on his father’s shoulder. ‘Wait…’

‘Toby’s right. Don’t tell my dad. He’ll only worry.’ I stagger to my feet and find to my dismay that I have to lean on a chair to steady myself. My legs are so shaky. What if I’m not strong enough to stand and say my vows? I think of all the people in the little chapel next to the hotel who’ve come to see us get married. All the weeks of planning. My utter joy and excitement at the thought of becoming Mrs Zoe Johnson. I can’t not get married, no matter how shaky I feel. I let go of the chair and square my shoulders. ‘Do you know what? Celia’s right, I’m absolutely fine. Honestly, I already feel so much better. I think it must have been nerves that made me faint. Or maybe hunger. Thinking about it, I did skip breakfast.’

‘Well, that’ll be it,’ Celia declares. She straightens the phone and picks up the receiver before ordering some cake for me and my two bridesmaids, but I ask her to stay too.

‘I hope I haven’t jinxed things.’ I turn to Toby. ‘It’s supposed to be bad luck for us to see one another before the wedding.’

‘You don’t really believe that.’ He smiles.

‘No, but I wanted to do things the right way. I didn’t want any drama. And I wanted to wait until I reached the chapel to see you. Now I’ve ruined it.’

‘You haven’t ruined anything.’ He puts his arms around me, and I lean into him. ‘I know you wanted everything to be just so. It’s what I love about you, Zoe. You love family. You love tradition.’

‘Even though I fainted and now have a giant egg-shaped lump on my head?’ I give him a wry look. ‘That’s not exactly traditional.’

‘Zoe, it’s all going to be perfect. You’re perfect.’