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‘Yes, yes.’ She pushed the letter to the side and pulled the kit out instead. ‘Here, let me get to that button of yours.’

‘I just wanted to grab Hope’s clothes. I figured I could get her dressed downstairs and give you a bit of space.’

‘Thank you. Yes.’ She handed him the dress while planting a long kiss on his lips.

‘What was that for?’ he asked, when they finally broke away.

‘Just because.’

It took less than two minutes to sew the button back in place, and when Holly came back downstairs, Hope was dressed in her new, blue outfit, with the corresponding bunny in her hand.

‘I packed the yellow one, too,’ Evan said, with a nod to the nappy bag. ‘Just in case she needs another outfit change.’

Holly nodded, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she simply handed him his shirt.

‘Hols.’ Evan put Hope down on the floor beside him. ‘I know you’ve got a lot on your mind today, but there’s something I really want to talk about before I go.’

A heat flooded through Holly’s cheeks. It didn’t matter how much she tried to push this conversation away, she knew she would have to face it eventually. She just wanted to put it off for as long as possible.

‘Later. Can we talk later? I said to Jamie we’d be there at ten. It’s already five to.’

Evan pressed his lips tightly together. Whatever he wanted to discuss, it was obviously more serious than Holly wanted to deal with, if he was refusing to let it go like this. Finally, he offered a small nod.

‘Okay, we’ll talk later. Let’s get you in the car.’ He lifted up Hope and carried her towards the door. ‘You got everything?’

Holly was about to reply that yes, she had everything she needed, but she hesitated.

‘Actually, can you just hang on for one second? There’s something I need to do.’

Then before he could reply, she ran upstairs, grabbed the envelope from her drawer and slipped it into her handbag.

69

The first part of the day felt like a reunion, as Eddie, Tyler and Spencer, Zahida and Naomi all gathered together for the first time since they’d been in Evan’s villa in France.

They had met at Giles’s uncle’s house, having been given free rein for the entire day, as the man himself was in South Africa. Giles, however, was very much present, and constantly rushing from room to room, constantly checking that Jamie was happy with everything – whether Jamie wanted him to or not.

‘You and Evan look perfect together,’ Zahida said, as she hugged Holly tightly. ‘Such a gorgeous couple. And I hear he’s been living with you.’

Holly winced at the words. ‘It’s just a temporary accommodation situation.’

‘I’m sure it will become permanent soon enough. You both look smitten.’

‘And I can’t believe that Giles is here either!’ Naomi added, joining in the conversation. ‘Jamie said he organised almost everything.’

‘He did,’ Holly said.

She looked through the large bay windows. Outside, Giles was currently waving his hands irately to the small group of waitstaff he’d hired for cocktails after the ceremony, while simultaneously barking instructions at the florist. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so flustered before.

‘I thought the bride and groom weren’t meant to see each other before the ceremony on the big day,’ Naomi said, with a nod towards the doorway where Jamie and Fin were locked in a tight embrace.

‘You can’t possibly think the normal rules apply to those two,’ Holly said. ‘They did the hen and stag do together. They are going to want to be together for as much of their wedding day as possible.’

Holly scanned the scene. The high ceilings were decorated with gilded rosettes, while large oil portraits hung on the faded, rust-coloured wallpaper. At one end of the room was a large, marble fireplace, in front of which Ben and Michael were setting up a band. It wasn’t what Jamie had envisioned, but somehow, Holly thought this might be better. All the guests had been told that anyone who could play an instrument was to bring it; that would be their music for the night. The cake was being made last minute by the bakery in the village and the chairs had been hired from the same village hall where Holly had held the charity fundraising night for the care home all those moons ago.

‘Do you mind if I ask something?’ Zahida said, bringing Holly back to the moment. ‘You seem so sure about you and Evan, but surely you felt that way about Ben too? I mean, you had a child together. How do you know that this time is going to turn out any better?’ As soon as she heard the words out of her mouth, Zahida looked horrified. ‘I didn’t mean… But you’re not… That’s not what I was saying at all.’

Holly smiled reassuringly. ‘It’s fine. I know what you mean. Honestly. I think the easiest way to explain it is, with Ben, Iwanted to be the best version of myself. I wanted to show him I was a brilliant businesswoman, a fantastic cook, and a great person. Being around him made me want to be all those things, which is great, but it was exhausting. Being with Evan…’ She looked across to where he was helping Ben set up the amp on speaker system. ‘Evan helps me be the best version of myself. I don’t have to try. He just brings it out in me. I could never get tired of that.’