‘It’s not even about him.’ She preferred not to say his name. ‘It’s how daft it made me feel. I was so sure, so confident, that I could rely on him. I still think about the surprise of it, his face and the way he looked at me differently . . .’

‘No one’s seen him, apart from that one time up at Reunion Point.’ Bella laughed. ‘I think he hides away in Bristol with his biscuits, or I think Mrs Everit said he might be in London. Anyway, who cares as long as he’s not in Port Charles?’

‘I think Jarvis saw him once up at the petrol station on the way up to St Austell. Said he was in a Porsche.’

‘Well, lucky old him!’ She bit the inside of her cheek and sipped her tea. It bothered her how the mention of news about him so piqued her interest. ‘So how are you getting to the church, Rubes? Want me to take you in Vera Wilma Brown?’

‘Christ, I’d rather not!’ She giggled. ‘I think Nancy’s coming here and we’re all going to walk up together. I thought, what with Jarv not having a big family, it would be better if we all went in one group, rather than Nancy arrive alone.’

‘Is his dad coming?’ Bella asked the question Merrin was about to.

‘Yes, apparently.’ Ruby sighed. ‘Jarvis is determined not to make a fuss of him, but I said to him, he may be a waste of space, but it will take courage for him to come back to Port Charles and be among his old friends, who all hold him in the same low regard, and so we need to make him feel welcome.’

Merrin understood this more than most.

Her sister’s voice faltered. ‘I just don’t want anything to go wrong. I want it to be perfect. I can’t be doing with falling out and bickering or even telling stories of all the bloody things that can and might go wrong!’

She and Bella shared a knowing look, the one they did when Ruby was on the verge of losing it and interventive action was required.

‘Now, Rubes,’ Merrin began, ‘we must turn to the matter in hand; it’s a rite of passage that you now have the “wiggle and tuppence” talk – time you knew what to expect on your wedding night. I’m sure we all have some good advice to give. Over to you, Bells.’

‘For the love of God, don’t make me part of this!’ Bella yelled. ‘I am the last person to give any advice on that particular subject. Aren’t I, babby?’ She leant forward and kissed her boy’s tiny hand.

‘Oh, I don’t know, Bells.’ Her mum spoke, as she kept her eyes firmly on Ruby’s locks. ‘I’d say you are probably the best person to give advice!’