Inside, the lobby glowed with soft lighting and discreet music.
Hannah clapped her hands together. ‘Right! Before we check in,’ she said, grinning, ‘I have a little surprise.’
Maddy felt dread. Was she about to be presented with some kind of costume? Maybe a princess with a penis crown?
‘There’s one more guest,’ Hannah continued. ‘I may have… forgotten to mention her.’
Maddy raised an eyebrow. ‘You forgot a person?’
‘She should be arriving any second,’ Hannah said.
The lobby doors opened behind them. Maddy turned. And stopped breathing.
Eva stepped inside, rolling a small suitcase behind her.
Maddy stared.
Eva looked less formal without her work wardrobe, in a light sweater, her hair looser, expression briefly uncertain as she took in the assembled group.
‘Oh, good,’ Hannah said cheerfully. ‘You found us.’
Maddy was still staring.
Eva’s eyes found Maddy. She gave the smallest, almost apologetic smile.
‘Hello,’ she said.
Eighteen
Eva knew the moment her car turned into the gravel drive that this was a terrible idea.
She did not attend clients’ hen weekends. This was a rule so obvious she had never needed to articulate it before. Her work depended on boundaries. Couples hired her because she was organised and reliable. Not because she socialised with them. Especially not the bride. Especially not when the bride was…
Eva cut that thought off before it could complete itself.
She’d gotten the call from the maid of honour a week ago. ‘At the moment, it’s a small group,’ Hannah had said frankly. ‘We need to bump up the numbers a bit.’
Eva had tried to refuse. ‘I don’t usually attend private events.’
Hannah either didn’t take the hint or pretended not to. ‘You won’t intrude. It’ll be fun. And I know Maddy likes you. But she’s shy. She would never ask.’
Eva had not been convinced, but Hannah was relentless. ‘Look, you’d be doing me a favour. And if you scratch my back…’
Eva sighed. ‘Yes?’
‘I’m a nurse. I work with a lot of women. They get married constantly. I’d be happy to recommend you. I know two womenplanning weddings right now that would snatch your number out of my hand…’
Eva thought it over. ‘Alright then,’ she agreed. ‘I’ll come.’ After all, it never hurt to line up more business.
She did not let herself think there was any other reason to say yes.
She climbed out of her car and retrieved her suitcase from the boot. A hen weekend. Two full days.
What the hell are you doing?
Inside, the lobby was exactly what she expected: low lighting, polished stone floors, cucumber water.
Eva paused just inside the doorway, adjusting her grip on the suitcase handle and scanning the space.
