‘Wow.’ Dan nodded. ‘I don’t think I should say anything else because I don’t want to offend you.’
‘Honestly,’ Evie said. She got her – very dented – boot open on the third attempt and she and Sasha chucked their blanket and picnic bag in. ‘So it was lovely to see you all.’
She hugged and air-kissed Max and Greggy, while Dan hugged Sasha, and then Evie turned to Dan. They both hesitated for a moment and then simultaneously went in for a hug. If the other three hadn’t been standing next to them, Dan would have really struggled not to bury his face in Evie’s hair and inhale far too deeply.
She feltgoodpressed against him for the brief moment of their hug.
‘Goodbye, then,’ she said. Hereallywanted to ask her if she’d like to meet up sometime. But hereallydidn’t want to get hurt or to lose Evie as a friend when things didn’t work out.
‘Bye,’ he said. ‘Great to see you. Ignore Sasha’s directions on the way back.’
* * *
That evening, while Sasha and Evie were at their big theatre evening, as evidenced by a constant stream of Facebook updates from Sasha, Dan had four friends – the maximum he could seat in his flat – over to watch the cricket.
‘Good day today?’ Zubin asked him.
‘Yeah, it was actually. Picnic with my brother and his partner and one of my sisters and her best friend. Really nice day.’
‘You getting a bit closer to your brother?’ Zubin took the lid off a bottle of Corona. Dan had told him once, when they were at uni, that he’d felt awkward around Max since the accident, which was more than he ever told most people. He hadn’t told him the full story, because he never told anyone the full story.
‘Yeah, little bit.’ Not really at all. Although today had genuinely been nice. ‘What about you? See the kids today?’
‘Yep. Took them to their football matches this morning and then swimming this afternoon. The little one’s five tomorrow and I can’t see him because his mother’s taking him to her parents’. Bit of a killer, if I’m honest.’
‘I’m so sorry, mate.’ Dan squeezed Zubin’s shoulder in sympathy. This was why you were better off not getting into romantic relationships. They caused a lot of hurt.
Twenty-Six
Now – August 2022
Evie
Evie gave one final tweak to Sasha’s veil, and stepped back.
‘Oh. My. Goodness,’ she breathed, blinking away sudden tears. ‘You look stunning. Fairy tale. So beautiful. Angus is a very lucky man.’
Lucie, Dervla and Dan all nodded and chorused their agreement.
‘You ready?’ Dan asked.
‘Yes,’ squeaked Sasha.
‘Let’s go then.’ Dan held out his arm and Sasha took it.
Dan and Sasha stepped onto the centuries-worn Cotswold flagstone in the entrance of the church and through the doorway. Evie was overwhelmed for a moment by the idea of tradition – so many brides must have stepped over this threshold on their wedding day.
She, Lucie and Dervla followed as the now extremely elderly Mrs Bird from the village started thumping out ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’. There was a new, younger, arguably muchmore competent organist at the church now, who did most Sunday services, but Sasha had gone with nostalgia and Mrs Bird.
Wow. The florists and Sasha and Evie’s mums and two of their friends from the village had done the most incredible job. The church was decorated beautifully with orange, purple and green flowers and leaves. And the pews were packed with beaming guests dressed to the nines.
And two of the guests, sitting in the back pew, were a very striking woman with a sleek black bob wearing a spectacular, very tailored-looking, scarlet dress, and the very cute baby she was holding. The baby had a shock of red hair and, given the way Dan and Sasha’s heads had both turned in that direction, had to be Katie.
Evie had to fight really hard with herself to maintain her serene, perfect-bridesmaid half-smile and continue to look straight ahead. She really wanted to turn back round andstare.
If she was honest, she’d have preferred Dan’s ex to be a little less beautiful.
Obviously, Evie was with Matthew and it wasn’t that she was jealous of Hannah. She had no reason to be, after all. But, okay, shewasa little bit jealous. And a little bit uncomfortable at being in the same place as her.
