‘What is it?’
‘Hang on a moment, Miss Impatient.’
Grace handed over a slim wrapped box, which Sofia ripped into and pulled out a thin gold bracelet studded all round with tiny red stones.
‘Oh, it’s gorgeous. Can I wear it now?’
‘That’s the idea.’
Grace fixed the bracelet around Sofia’s tiny wrist.
‘I couldn’t imagine having anyone else as my bridesmaid.’
‘I’d have been furious if you did.’
‘Exactly.’
‘But now, madam, it’s time to get dressed.’
Sofia pulled Grace’s simple white linen shift dress shot through with silver from its hanger.
‘This is lovely.’
‘It has a special meaning for us. It was the dress I wore to Will’s space party, right here in this house. The first time we danced together, the first time I felt my body respond to his?—’
‘OK, let’s stop it there. You need to actually put it on, unless you’re planning to walk down the aisle in your underwear. Poor Will’s going to think you’ve deserted him.’
‘He’s made of stronger stuff than that.’
Grace’s dreamy smile wasn’t getting them anywhere.
‘Dress. On.’
‘What a bossy bridesmaid.’
Sofia slipped her arm through Grace’s as they checked themselves for a final time in the large, blue-framed mirror above the table.
Grace smiled at their reflection.
‘White and red. The good girl and the naughty girl.’
‘Which is which?’
‘Hard to tell. I think we’re all a bit of both.’
Sofia handed her one of the posies of red roses casually tossed on the table and grabbed the other one for herself.
‘Are you finally ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be.’
The walk down the aisle was a riot of cheering and clapping. Sofia smiled at Charlotte, but her heart missed a beat when she saw Adonis staring straight at her. He’d said he wasn’t sure whether he’d be able to get away in time, but here he was, his blond good looks standing out in a sea of dark heads.
Their joint present to the happy couple, which Grace had no idea about, was the honeymoon suite at the hotel for the night, before they left for Australia tomorrow. The couple’s luggage had been smuggled out and taken to the hotel earlier. Angeliki was looking after Karen the cat, so she was in on it too.
They’d nearly reached the top of the aisle, and Will still had his back turned away from his bride. Angeliki and her boyfriend, Nick, were level with them now on their right as they paused for Grace to blow a kiss to her friend.
Sofia took Grace’s posy and moved to the chair set aside for her at the front, just as Will turned. She wouldn’t have wanted to miss that first look at Grace for anything in the world. The love it contained was boundless, and glancing back at her friend told her Grace returned his love a millionfold. She had absolutely no doubts about this marriage going the distance.
