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‘Wow, that’s pretty deep,’ Zahida said, eyes wide.

‘Does it sound ridiculous?’ Holly felt her cheeks colouring from embarrassment. After all, it felt like a pretty bold statement to make about someone she’d known for less than two months.

‘No, no, not at all. That makes perfect sense. And I guess it’s the same for him.’

It was a sweet thing to say, but doubt prickled in Holly’s stomach.

‘I really, really hope so.’ She looked over to where Hope was currently with Caroline and the children playing. A sudden heat flooded over her.

‘Sorry, I just need to head to the ladies’ room. I won’t be a minute.’

Without waiting for Zahida to reply, she walked away.

It took several moments until Holly found somewhere where she could be on her own, and even then it wasn’t a bathroom, but a small drawing room. She didn’t care. She just needed the quiet.

As she dropped onto the seat, she placed her handbag on her lap. The weight of the envelope within felt all the more present.

It didn’t make sense to open it there. It didn’t make sense to read Maud’s final words to her on such a happy day, and forever taint it, but Holly knew she couldn’t resist. Not until she had seen what the letter said. So, as carefully as she could, she pulled back the flap of the envelope, tugged out the piece of paper, and began to read.

70

‘Where have you been? We’re getting ready. People are starting to sit outside.’

Caroline bounded in with Hope in her arms, who immediately reached out for Holly.

‘Are you okay?’ Caroline asked, her face suddenly clouded by concern. ‘You look… shellshocked.’

‘I’m fine,’ Holly said, forcing herself to smile.

‘Hurry up!’ Naomi’s voice bellowed from the other room.

But while Holly rose to her feet, Caroline stayed exactly where she was.

‘We ought to get going, as long as you’re okay?’ she said quietly.

‘Yes, absolutely fine.’

Still, Caroline hovered just a second longer. ‘It’s not about Evan, is it? You two are okay, aren’t you?’

‘Yes. At least, I think so.’

‘Phew, because I’ve got the sweepstake on a proposal before Christmas, and you know how I hate to lose to the others.’

At this, Holly had to laugh.

‘You’ve got a sweepstake going on when he’ll propose?’

‘Yep. Come on, we’ll talk about it later. Right now, we’ve got a wedding to attend.’

The ceremony was perfect. The sky was clear, and the vivid greens of the fields were even brighter than normal against a blazing blue sky that spanned out behind them. One of Fin’s cousins, who happened to be a cellist, played while Jamie walked down the aisle, while a rock soundtrack accompanied them on the walk back.

And Jamie looked phenomenal.

Her white dress was the epitome of elegance and simplicity, while her hair was slicked back in an equally striking bun. Fin had opted for a dark-green suit that complemented the surroundings so well, it could have been as if they had chosen the venue from the start.

After the ceremony were drinks and canapés. And hugging, so much hugging, that Holly wished she had two working arms, because her right one was aching after only half an hour. At just before one, Wendy and Arthur came to pick up Hope, so that Holly could enjoy the meal with her friends.

But the whole time, the contents of the letter were burning away in the back of her mind.