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‘Any time. I owe you a favour.’

The registrar, a woman in a navy trouser suit, emerged from the door. ‘Matt and Zennor. Are you ready?’

Her heart galloped away. ‘Oh, yes.’

Matt stood up and held out his hand to her, his eyes shining with the happiness she felt. ‘Shall we?’

‘SURPRISE!’

Zennor and Matt crept into the foyer of the Harry Veryan Clubhouse as Tyler walked in. Matt’s hand was around hers and she marvelled at the weight of the gold ring around her finger. It had been a while since that hand had worn anything and it felt … perfect.

A raucous chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ rang out.

Matt inched the door open a little more so that Zennor could peer inside.

‘Thanks, guys!’ Tyler shouted.

‘You’re dressed up!’ Vince said. ‘What’s with the flower on your jacket?’

There were groans.

‘Did you know about this?’ Dawn asked.

‘Well, maybe … but only because I was keeping a bigger secret than my birthday. And that is because this party is also to celebrate another special event. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the newly married Mr and Mrs Matt and Zennor Veryan!’

On cue, Tyler opened the doors. Zennor and Matt walked in to gasps and then total pandemonium. Party poppers went off, streamers exploded into the air, and everyone was whooping and cheering.

‘You bloody dark horses!’

‘I had no idea!’

‘About bleddy time!’

‘Let’s get the party started!’ Tyler declared, and someone passed glasses of fizz to Matt and Zennor.

‘Congratulations, Zennor and Matt!’

Matt stood on stage, hand in hand with Zennor.

‘Sorry about the mystery, folks! We just wanted to do it in as small a way as possible but we also wanted to share the day with our friends and family.’

‘So, no one knew?’ Dawn asked, shaking her head in amazement.

‘Zennor’s mum and her partner André, Sybil, Tyler and Yolande, and Roo and Jake. That’s it.’

More cheers rang out.

‘You two are full of bleddy surprises!’ Jago called.

Matt laughed and then called for hush. ‘I also have a surprise for my mate, Tyler, who has sacrificed his birthday party for my wife and me.’

Laughter and jeers rose up and Zennor rolled her eyes.

The choir members stepped out from among the guests, pints in their hands.

‘What’s this? A flash mob?’ Tyler joked.

‘Wait and see.’