‘You do seem very good together. He obviously adores you. Not that I’m an expert on relationships’—Charlotte gave a sad little smile—‘including my own. But what I will say is that sometimes it is hard to see what’s obvious to everyone else.’
Sofia put her hands over her ears.
‘No! I’m not listening anymore. Let’s get back to the weeping and wailing at your departure, Mads.’
Maddie carefully wrapped the picture of Thanassis in one of her dresses and put it back in the case.
‘If you want to ignore what we’re saying, it’s up to you. Just think on it, Sof.’
The sound of a car arriving prompted Maddie to get up and pull her friends in for a last hug.
‘We ought to make this an annual event.’
‘Yes!’ Sofia punched the air. ‘Girls on tour. Summers in Greece.’
Charlotte kissed both of them on the cheek.
‘I’m up for it.’
‘And now…’ Maddie pulled away. ‘I really must go.’
They stood waving until the car had disappeared round the corner and Maddie was lost from sight.
Sofia wiped a final tear from her eye.
‘A morning by the pool before we get ready for the wedding?’
‘Sounds great.’
Given that Sofia had allegedly decided on what to wear days ago, she was taking an awful lot of time to get ready, thought Charlotte.
Grace had asked her bridesmaid to wear something simple in red to match the flowers, and had specified bare feet all round. As planned, the couple had signed the civil papers the day before. Neither of them was religious, and both had been married before, so a church wedding was out.
Technically it meant they were already married in the eyes of the law, but according to Sofia, for them the ceremony on the beach was the real wedding.
Charlotte had opted for a slinky pale green number, and after a quick hair wash, a dollop of mascara, and a slick of lipstick, she was ready.
She’d been sat on Sofia’s terrace for a good twenty minutes now.
‘Sof! What are you doing in there?’
‘Coming!’
Sofia stalked onto the terrace like it was a catwalk.
Charlotte’s breath caught in her throat. There were simple red dresses, and there were simple red dresses. Stopping six inches above the knee, this one clung to every curve on her friend’s body, the sensuous fabric swooping low at the back but attached to a collar at the neck. The contrast between the rippling silk and Sofia’s tanned, lithe body was an arresting sight.
‘That dress is bloody sensational!’
‘Char, you never swear.’
‘I do now. I’ve certainly never seen it before, either. I thought you were going to wear something from your already substantial wardrobe.’
Sofia’s shifty look confirmed to Charlotte it was new.
‘I bought it secretly on the shopping trip in town, although I made out to Mads that I’d only got the dress for my visit to scary Momma.’
‘I bet it wasn’t cheap.’
