‘Er, no. I’d be embarrassed to tell her how much it cost, which is why I hid it. But as she’s not coming to the wedding, I won’t ever have to.’
Charlotte rubbed the silk between the fingers of one hand.
‘Those stunningly simple dresses are always the most expensive.’
‘I had to have something special, not only for Grace and Will, but because it’s my last night with Adonis for a while.’
Sofia’s face fell.
‘Don’t worry. As soon as he sees you in that, he’ll want to kidnap you and lock you away somewhere in the hotel vaults, rather than let you leave.’
‘Okaaay, not at all creepy then.’
Charlotte laughed and reached for her silver shoulder bag.
‘We can take our shoes off when we get there.’
The path down to the beach was strung with fairy lights, and the small crowd that had gathered waved and cheered every new arrival. Silver chairs either side of an aisle made of sand were hung with bunches of red roses mixed in with white gypsophila. They could see Will in the distance, waiting at the end of theaisle, talking to his best man, who could only be his son, so alike were they.
Beyond Will was just blue sea, all the way to the sky.
Sofia had been asked to meet Grace at the house first, and she touched Charlotte on the arm.
‘Will you be OK on your own for a few minutes?’
‘Don’t be silly. I have been socialised. I’ve only got to walk about fifty metres down there. Go and see to Grace.’
Sofia peeled off to her left and gently knocked at the door of one of the white houses above the cove.
‘Come in!’
Grace stood in her white lace underwear in the kitchen. She turned at the sound of the door being opened and appraised her friend’s outfit.
‘Woah, hot stuff.’
‘Hot stuff yourself! How did you know it was me? I could have been anyone. And you’re in your knickers.’
Grace moved to enfold her in a hug.
‘I saw you coming up the path.’
‘Why aren’t you dressed? They’re all waiting.’
‘I only need to throw the dress over my head. I wanted to have a moment alone with you first. You’re so much a part of my story.’
‘Aw!’
Grace pulled Sofia in further and kissed her on the top of her head.
‘Let’s have a quick drink to us.’
Two full champagne flutes were waiting on the table. Sofia picked up the nearest one and handed the other one to her friend.
‘To us!’
The two women downed the icy liquid side by side.
‘Us.’ Grace put down her glass. ‘Also, I wanted to give you something.’
