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“I’ll go get them,” I tell Sam and head along the corridor to Claire’s room.

I’m just about to knock when Kath’s voice filters through the door, exasperated but warm.

“For the hundredth time, Claire, I don’t mind. I think it’s great that you and Tom are going on a date. Actually, I’m excited. And I am officially closing this as a conversation topic.”

There’s a muffled groan from Claire, and I can’t help the smile tugging at my mouth.

“Ugh, I think I smudged my eyeliner,” I hear Sophia chime in. “Claire, help me.”

I knock on the door.

“Just a minute,” Claire calls.

I hear the sound of high heels on wooden floors and then Claire appears. She’s wearing a deep blue dress that matches her eyes. It’s made of some sort of satin, I think, and drapes across her, clinging to her curves. Her hair is in a complex updo, and she looks stunning. Beautiful in a way that makes my throat dry.

Kath comes to the door, in a pale pink dress that I’ve seen her wear at a few family weddings over the years. Sophia’s still by the mirror, pushing some pins into her hair.

“Taxi’s here,” Sam calls from the front room.

“You look amazing,” I whisper to Claire as she passes me. “This dress is lovely.”

“It was a gift from my mum,” she says, then mutters something about needing to make sure we aren’t late.

We pile into the car together, and I take a seat next to Claire who’s nervously tapping her leg.

I tug on the cuffs of my suit again. The sleeves feel the tiniest bit short, but hopefully no one will notice.

“It’ll be fine.” Sophia looks at her sister intently from where she perches opposite us. “And hey, at least you have a date. Mum said someone would be there waiting for me. I’m manifesting a young Ryan Gosling, but I have a feeling it will be an aspiring politician.”

Kath laughs, but Claire’s chuckle sounds forced. Her gaze is fixed on the blur of lights outside the window. I brush my knee against hers, and she gives me a grateful look.

“Are you alright?” I whisper as the conversation continues around us.

“Yeah, sorry. Just nervous.”

“It’ll be fine.”

The car slows, and we pull up outside a huge hotel, the type that has porters standing in uniform coats. Apparently it’s also the type where one of those porters comes to open the taxi door and offer a hand to the ladies getting out. As I climb out, I try not to be too obvious about wiping my sweaty palms on my trousers. I knew it was going to be posh. I didn’t realise just how posh.

“Shall we?” I offer Claire my arm, and she slides her hand into the crook of my elbow.

Inside, the lobby smells faintly of expensive floral arrangements and furniture polish. Light pours from a chandelier the size of a small car and a string quartet is posted by a marble staircase.

We’re barely three steps into the event room after dropping off our coats when a woman in a deep green gown glides towards us.

“Sophia, darling, there you are.” Her blonde hair is arranged in a smooth twist, and a pearl necklace gleams at her neck. “Your date is just by the table, wait here and I’ll see if he’s free so I can introduce you. Please remember to try.”

Sophia hunches over slightly, before straightening as her mother gives her a sharp look.

Claire steps forwards.

“Hi, Mum, this is Tom.”

Her mother’s eyes rove over my funeral suit, and I’m sure she must know it’s nowhere near a tux. I hold out my hand, and after a moment she clasps it, and gives me a polite smile.

“Pleasure to see you again,” I say as she limply returns my handshake. “I remember you from when you used to collect Claire from playdates with Kath.”

“Of course,” she smiles at me.