Katie Fforde - Wedding Season

‘So how did you get him to make a move?' asked Elsa, not remotely interested in the ivy.

Bron looked embarrassed and then said playfully, 'Well – you know. I was so tired and after the fiasco with my bed and the broken glass I had nowhere to sleep except the caravan, so I went there. James was already asleep and the rest is history.'

‘Not history I've heard,' said Elsa firmly. 'How do we get from "James was already asleep" to "the rest is history"? He's asleep. He can't be pouncing on you if he's unconscious.'

‘OK, I admit it. It was me.' Bron was laughing and blushing at the same time. 'I lay down beside him – really just wanting a nap. But then when I woke up, he looked so gorgeous I just… undid a couple of buttons.' She sighed. 'He caught me at it. And if the rest isn't history, you can make it up!’

Everyone laughed and Sarah refilled their glasses. 'So, Elsa, tell us all the details about you and Laurence,' she said.

‘I thought I had,' said Elsa, looking up at them from under her fringe. 'He's just lovely. My parents think he's perfect, which actually is a bit irritating, because whenever we go over for lunch he and Dad disappear into the bowels of the Morgan, leaving me and Mum with the washing-up.'

‘Oh, I've so got that T-shirt,' said Bron with feeling.

Elsa grinned. 'But it's all right because Mum likes to be able to tell me how lucky I am for a few uninterrupted hours. Oh, and I've got a lovely new project – costumes for a very posh school's Midsummer Night's Dream.'

‘ Oh wow! But does that mean you won't have time for another wedding dress?' said Sarah. 'I'm meeting a new client next week.'

‘Oh no, I can fit in a bride. The costumes aren't too fiddly, and I've got a couple of mums lined up to help.'

‘I was hoping you'd say that. What a relief.' Sarah turned to Bron. 'And I'll be recommending my top hairdresser of course. I can't possibly do it all without my full team.' And she pointed to a picture of the three of them, arms linked, smiling happily at the camera.

‘And what about the photographer?' Elsa teased.

‘And the gardener?' threw in Bron before picking up the bottle and draining it into the three glasses.

They continued looking through the rest of the photographs, each chipping in with an appropriate comment every now and again.

On the last page, Sarah closed the album and reached for the second bottle of champagne, peeling off the foil in one expert move.

‘I can't believe how much our lives have changed since Ashlyn's wedding. Sarah, for example,' said Bron, whilst her friend was distracted, 'has had a complete personality transplant since then.'

‘No I haven't!' Sarah protested as she filled their glasses once more.

‘Yes you have,' said Elsa. 'A couple of months ago you'd be making us all drink water.’

Sarah laughed. 'Well, "to everything there is a season," or whatever the expression is. And this is the champagne season.' She raised her glass to join the others.

‘Or even the wedding season,' said Elsa, 'or is that going too far?'

‘Definitely too far,' said Sarah, 'but let's go there anyway!’