‘OK, Sarah?' Elsa shouted into her ear, obviously aware that her friend was not enjoying herself.

‘I just need a glass of water. I don't know how many of those cocktails I've had, and they're so sweet.'

‘I'll get you one if you like,' said Elsa.

‘I'll go!' said Sarah, rising from her seat and then sitting down again. She was suddenly aware that she'd had far too much to drink.

‘It's all right,' said Elsa. 'I won't have to pay for it, I don't think. I've run out of money.'

‘There's some in my bag if you need it,' said Sarah. 'I got some out before I came.' She burrowed under her feet and found her bag, and in it, her purse. 'Oh. I don't know how I can have spent all that money.'

‘I'll get the water. Then it must be time to go home!’

Somehow Charlene roped them into yet another game of truth or dare, and, already rather befuddled, Sarah found herself having to down a few more drinks as a forfeit. She felt a desperate urge to lie down but first she really needed to find the Ladies.

When she came out again it seemed to take her a while to find the door of the building but at last she got out on to the pavement. Elsa and Bron were there, looking concerned.

‘Charlene took Lily and the others in the limo. They said if we didn't want to go to another club we didn't have to,' she said.

‘That's good,' said Sarah, aware of having to enunciate very carefully, as well as keep herself upright; everything was weaving in and out of focus horribly quickly. 'I really don't want any more to drink. I've had too much already. Let's call a – a – car that takes you places.’

She watched as Bron and Elsa went through their purses, looking for money. 'Take mine,' she said grandly, swaying and steadying herself against a wall. 'I've got plenty of money.'

‘No you haven't,' said Elsa. 'Yours has been rifled already. Those cocktails were very expensive.’

Sarah felt very very tired and sat on a convenient step. 'If I have a little rest first we can walk home.'

‘I don't think so,' said Elsa firmly as she and Bron exchanged glances. They'd never seen Sarah like this. They all needed to get home, and safely. 'First off, these shoes are killing me and second, it's bloody miles away.'

‘Oh,' said Sarah, and closed her eyes.

‘We need to phone someone,' said Bron.

‘Who? I'm not phoning my dad – only as a last resort, anyway,' said Elsa. 'I don't mind calling him if I'm lost and need^, to be given directions, but he'll have had a glass or two of wine by now, or be in bed. And Laurence is away.'

‘Well, I can't phone James. He gets up really early. It wouldn't be fair.’

Sarah opened her eyes briefly when she heard either Elsa or Bron say, 'Hugo!'

‘Oh yes,' she murmured and closed her eyes again.

Sarah seemed to have been asleep for a long time. She'd had some very strange dreams including a car ride and Hugo. He was taking her somewhere. Bron and Elsa were there and they seemed to be talking about her, but she couldn't really understand what they were saying. Then she woke up and it was all real, if still a little hazy.

‘Thank goodness I wasn't dreaming that I was walking down the street naked,' she said and Hugo, who seemed to be on his own now, laughed.

‘Come on, sweetheart, let's get you to bed.'

‘I don't want to go to bed with you, Hugo. Even if I do really like you.'

‘Do you?’

Sarah nodded. 'Mm. But I'm not going to sleep with you because you'll break my heart.'

‘You don't have to sleep with me, but I wouldn't break your heart at all.'

‘Wouldn't you?'

‘No, but we won't talk about that now.’

In the morning it all came back to her in terrifying detail. She realised that not only had Hugo taken most of her clothes off and tucked her into bed, but he'd left a big glass of water and bowl handy for her. Realising that he'd seen her when she was very, very drunk was more painful than the hangover.

‘Have a bacon sandwich,' he advised when he rang her a little later to see if she was all right. 'And a pint of orange juice.'

‘I'm so, so sorry,' she said, too ill to be embarrassed. Was it possible for a head actually to split open?

He laughed. 'You're a very endearing drunk, Sarah. Don't worry about it.’

When he was sure that she had what she needed to work on her hangover and had disconnected, Sarah remembered what she'd said about him breaking her heart. She also remembered him saying that he wouldn't. She hadn't believed him then and she didn't believe him now.

Bron was in her little garden, working on what she hoped was her last fake-cake, thinking that at least she was very quick at creating flowers in icing so when she came to do the real cake, in a couple of days' time, she should be an expert at it. She needed to be as Carrie's wedding was mere days away now.

‘Hi,' said a female voice. 'Am I disturbing you? I've come over to see how you're getting on, and to make a hair appointment, if I may.’

She looked up to see Vanessa.

‘My goodness!' Vanessa went on, gesturing towards what Bron was doing. 'Look at that! It's fantastic!’

Bron was pleased. 'It's the last. I'm hoping I won't need to do any more. Do you like them?'

‘They're beautiful! Could I commission you to do one for me?'

‘Of course. You might be able to have one of these when the wedding's over. I don't know what Carrie will want to do with them.'

‘To be honest, I'd rather have one without crystals,' said Vanessa.

‘Mm, I know what you mean, but I think as Carrie's dress is covered in them, the crystals are necessary. Can I get you a cup of coffee or anything?' asked Bron.

‘Yes, but I'll make it. What would you like?'

‘I've only got instant, I'm afraid,' said Bron, suddenly a little daunted by the thought of her landlady making her own coffee.

‘That's fine. Too much of the other stuff gives me the jitters.’

Bron laughed and started another flower. Now she was doing the top of the sphere, she had to stand on a box to work. She wondered why, if she wanted her hair doing, Vanessa hadn't just rung up to make an appointment. Did she have another reason for calling or was she just being friendly? When Vanessa came out a few minutes later with two steaming mugs and settled herself on the bench beside Bron, Bron soon realised that she definitely had something else to talk about. Once they'd fixed a time for Bron to do Vanessa's hair the following week and Vanessa had grilled her on Carrie's wedding preparations and said she couldn't wait for the next issue of Celeb to come out – she made it her business to keep up with all the gossip -she turned to Bron and said firmly, 'Now tell me, how are you and James getting on?’

Bron swallowed a big gulp of coffee. 'Well, we don't see much of each other, we're both very busy-'

‘I wondered,' Vanessa interrupted her. 'I noticed him helping you with your cakes.' She gave Bron a piercing glance. Had her landlady been spying on her? Knowing Vanessa, she wouldn't put it past her.

‘I think he's very attractive – not that I go for younger men – but he is good-looking, I've always thought,' Vanessa went on.

‘Yes, he is, very good-looking.' Bron was wary.

‘But you don't fancy him? No chemistry? I mean, it either works for you or it doesn't.’

Bron couldn't quite believe her landlady's audacity, then she laughed.

‘Oh, am I being too blunt? If you don't fancy him-''It's not that.' Bron blushed.

‘Ah, so you do like him?' Vanessa was obviously determined to find out. 'I was only saying to Donald the other night what a good pair you'd make. He told me not to interfere of course, but… Anyway, if you do fancy him, then what's the problem?’