‘Thank you, Mrs Everit, Mr Everit, and no worries. See you both later!’ Merrin waved.

‘Have you got the nerves, Vicar? Must be quite an occasion for you – not every day we get a wedding like this in Port Charles, eh?’ Merrin’s dad stood tall, smoothing the lapels of his morning coat and pushing out his chin, shining with pride and giving no hint of the discomfort he had complained of earlier in the day.

The Reverend Pimm stepped forward and placed his hand on her arm. ‘Merrin, I need you to come with me.’ His eyes held hers and his tone was kindly.

‘Oh, I thought I waited here with my dad and the girls until I heard the music and then walked in, like we practised.’

The vicar swallowed and nodded slowly. ‘There’s been . . .’ He looked skyward, as if this was where the inspiration, divine or otherwise, might lurk. ‘There’s been a change of plan.’

‘Oh, okay. Do I need to wait somewhere else?’ She was a little confused, and felt her spit thicken at the prospect that something had gone wrong, but one look at the vicar’s quiet smile and her worry fled. What was it he had said during their practice? ‘Don’t aim for perfection on your day, there is always some unforeseen hiccup – think about the bigger meaning and embrace all that it brings you . . .’ She nodded, deciding to do just that and embrace all that was coming her way.

‘Yes.’ He smiled at her again. ‘If you could come with me. And you, too, Mr Kellow. The rest of the wedding party – you can wait here.’

‘Don’t be long, Merry!’ Bella called out. ‘It’s bloody hot and my bra’s digging in!’ She fanned herself with her flowers and Merrin cringed at the fact that her friend had announced this to Reverend Pimm.

The vicar walked at pace around to the back of the church. With her dad by her side, Merrin did her best to keep up, her kitten heels clattering on the path. Finally, they followed the vicar into the gabled porch that led to the vestry. The large square room with flagstone floors and wood-panelled walls smelt dusty, but it was cool and she was thankful for a respite from the heat. The vicar pushed a red velvet chair into the middle of the room.

‘Please sit down, Merrin.’

Quite bewildered as to what part of the ceremony she might have misunderstood, she did as Reverend Pimm requested, spreading her dress around her on the floor so as not to crease the bodice. Her dad stood behind her, his hand on the back of the chair.

‘I’m not sure what’s going on!’ She giggled.

The vicar dropped down on to his haunches and balanced on the balls of his feet in front of her. Then his smile disappeared and, looking her in the eye, he started to speak slowly.