Aria sat up straighter, adjusting her red glasses with great ceremony. ‘Hmm,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I’m going to say… the library-themed table names.’
Everyone looked at her.
Aria shrugged cheerfully. ‘I suggested it.’
Maddy smiled, thinking,What the fuck is she talking about?She had absolutely no memory of this suggestion, but it sounded plausible, so she didn’t challenge it.
‘Very intellectual,’ Hannah said, scribbling something down on the card as though scoring a competition. ‘Mary?’
Mary wiped chocolate from her fingers. ‘I think… the vows,’ she said quietly.
Maddy was grateful to Mary for giving her the one to beat. That would sound exactly right. Maddy could say that was the answer. She was unconcerned that anyone would remember that she famously feared and hated public speaking. Once, when an author came to speak at the library, Maddy had been pushed into doing the introduction. She’d spoken at such a low volume that later, people asked why they’d gotten a mime in before the Q and A. Maddy had been so stressed afterwards that she’d eaten a plate of biscuits meant for the children’s story time hour.
But no one would remember that. They’d go along with the version of events where Maddy was excited to talk about her deepest feelings in front of everyone she knew and the perfect strangers they’d brought along.
‘Okay, Mum of the Bride, your turn,’ Hannah decreed.
Kelly sat up proudly. ‘Well, obviously she’s most excited about marrying Adam,’ she said.
Hmm, that also sounded so correct that no one could argue with it. Yep. Maddy was going to get out of this cleanly.
‘Eva?’ Hannah said.
Eva had been watching the room with quiet attentiveness the entire time. Maddy thought she might opt out. But she didn’t hesitate. ‘The light.’
Everyone turned to her.
Hannah blinked. ‘The… light?’
Eva nodded calmly. ‘Maddy likes natural light. The venue’s west windows mean the best light will be just before sunset.’
She said it so matter-of-factly that it took Maddy a moment to realise what had happened. Eva had somehow gotten the right answer. It was true. It was practically the only thing Maddy had expressed enthusiasm for, if you didn’t count the greenhouse, which she couldn’t now anyway.
Maddy felt heat rush unexpectedly to her face.
Hannah scribbled again. ‘Okay! Bride! What’s the actual answer?’
‘Eva had it,’ Maddy said.
Eva’s mouth twitched slightly.
Hannah clapped. ‘Eva gets a point!’
‘Are there points?’ Aria asked.
‘There are now,’ Hannah said.
Mary snorted softly into her champagne.
Maddy risked a glance at Eva. She looked entirely composed, but there was something slightly amused in her expression. She wasn’t miserable.
It was ridiculous how much relief that gave Maddy.
‘Next question!’ Hannah said brightly. ‘What is Maddy’s biggest wedding fear?’
Maddy nearly laughed. Talk about a gimme. Take your pick, ladies and ladies.
She watched Hannah scan the group for the next victim.
