Lily put her sister away from her gently and smiled. 'That's what I mean – that's what mums do.'

‘Silly!' said Sarah. `So how have you been, really?’

‘OK, it's just..

‘What?'

‘In some ways I feel sort of numb.'

‘Numb?’

Lily nodded. 'The other day I was testing my feelings for Dirk, to make sure I wasn't making another dreadful mistake and..

‘What?' Sarah held Lily's hands to encourage her to say what she was worried about.

‘And I imagined that I heard something awful had happened to Dirk.' Sarah made to speak but Lily stopped her. 'I couldn't feel anything! That's what I mean about being numb.’

Sarah relaxed a little. 'Perfectly normal. Many's the bride who's told me much the same thing. Don't worry about it.

It's just the panic of the big day approaching.' She paused. 'I went round to Dirk's mother's. She wants me to pop back and do a seating plan with her. Has she any idea how long a seating plan takes to organise? Why the hell didn't she think of it before?'

‘Because we told her we didn't want a seating plan!' Lily got up off the bed, revealing to Sarah that her pregnancy was at last beginning to show a little. 'What is the bloody woman up to now? She's hijacked this wedding from the very beginning.'

‘Oh, love!' Sarah put her arm round her sister again. 'It'll be all right. If you really don't want a seating plan I'll tell her that later. It'll save us both hours of stress. I'll talk her round. Don't you worry.' She paused. 'Now, is everything else under control?’

Lily nodded. 'I think so. My bridesmaids are turning up tomorrow. They've all got their dresses. They're having their hair done but they're not allowed up-dos. My hairdresser said she could only do one, and that's mine.' Lily looked at her sister. 'It was so good having that chat with Bron about it all. I'm going to do my own make-up. I've practised, and after all, I know best how I like to look.'

‘Oh, I'm so proud of you – you've really grown up in the last few months, Lily!'

‘I know.' Lily sighed. 'I don't like the idea but I think maybe it's time I grew up a bit. I'm going to be a married woman and a mother.’

Sarah chuckled. 'Have you got your music all sorted out? For the reception? I know you had to have all the hymns that Dirk's family wanted for the church, but you've picked out your favourites?'

‘Oh yes. Dirk did that a while ago. And we tested the sound system in the marquee.’

Sarah sat on the bed. 'Can I look at your scrapbook? I know you did the dress one but this one holds all your hopes and dreams, doesn't it? Does it relate to what you're actually having on your wedding day?'

‘Not really, but I was a bit Barbie-obsessed in those days. Loving my dress though!' she added, brightening up. 'Did you pay Elsa for all the work she did? I know I didn't.’

Sarah shook her head. 'We had a bit of a row about it but she wouldn't take any money. She said me getting her Carrie's dress was enough. Poor girl! Carrie didn't decide until the last minute about what dress she wanted, or what she wanted the bridesmaids to wear. They're going to look sweet as anything, but what a rush for Elsa.’

Sarah allowed herself a couple of seconds to think about Ashlyn's little bridesmaid and the photograph Hugo had taken of them both. Then she shoved the vision aside and concentrated on her sister. Now was not the time. She must focus solely on Lily. 'Anything else you need me to sort for you?’

Lily nodded. 'The receiving line. Mona is insisting on having one.'

‘Well, they are usual.'

‘I really don't want people who know me, my friends and relations, noticing that I'm pregnant.'

‘The dress will disguise it quite well, and you're not exactly huge.'

‘If Aunt Margaret sees the slightest bulge, she'll say, "Up the duff, are we, ducky? That's nicer Sarah giggled, knowing she shouldn't. 'I'm sorry, but you sounded exactly like her when you said it.’

Lily giggled a little too. 'But you do see I can't risk her saying that in a line-up. Mona will hear and she might say something.’

Sarah considered. 'Tell you what, have two line-ups. You and Dirk, and then, a long way away, the parents, bridesmaids, best man, whoever.'

‘She'd never wear it! She's been so difficult about it all. She's such a snob.'

‘I'll talk her into it. Make out it's what the posh folk do.' Lily giggled again. 'My big sister Sarah, fighting my battles.'

‘That's what big sisters are for. Now, what are you going to do tonight? Early night? A DVD in bed? Hot bath?’

‘I don't know.' Suddenly Lily began to cry. Not scorching, temperamental tears, but large, hot, silent ones, pouring down her cheeks.

‘Oh, lovey, what is it?' Sarah cuddled her. 'What's the matter?'

‘I don't know! Nothing really. Everything.'

‘Have you eaten?’

Lily shook her head.

‘That's probably why you're feeling weepy. I'll go out for something,' said Sarah, ever practical. 'Fish and chips?’

‘Ooh yes, my favourite! But no vinegar, I've gone off it.’

‘We'll watch some Sex and the City or something while we eat it, then I'll go round and explain to Dirk's mother you don't want a seating plan and tell her about the line-up arrangement.’

Lily looked up at Sarah. 'You won't be able to change her mind. She'll make you – us – have one.'

‘Would it break your heart if she did tell people where to sit?'

‘No!' wailed Lily. 'Not that much. But the line-up thing is really worrying me.' She sniffed. 'She'll die if she hears people referring to my bump and I don't want my wedding day ruined by scenes.’

You and every other bride, thought Sarah, but most of you are doomed to disappointment.

Lily was right about Mrs Boscastle being determined to have things her way. Her dinner guests had been swept out of the way and the kitchen table cleared for action.

‘Lily did tell me that she and Dirk had decided they just wanted people to sit where they wanted,' Sarah said firmly. 'With whom they wanted.'

‘They're young things,' said Mrs Boscastle equally firmly. 'They don't know how important these things are. We'll do it together. I'll get my husband to make labels on his computer tomorrow morning. Then we'll just stick them on to folded cards.'

‘That's going to be quite time-consuming,' said Sarah. 'Are you sure there won't be other things he'll want to be doing? Checking the wine is chilled? Manly things like that?' Mr Boscastle had yet to appear. If he was anything like his wife, he might have ideas of his own.

‘No. Those WI women, or whoever they are, will arrange the wine. At least I hope they will. They don't seem very well organised and quite inexperienced.’

Sarah bit down hard on her lecture about those women working for nothing, only charging for the food and being very obliging in every way. Mrs Boscastle wasn't supposed to know about all the economies Lily and Dirk had had to make. She did hope it was just Mrs Boscastle being difficult though, and that there wasn't really anything wrong with them.

‘They'll be fine. And I'll help you put the place cards out if your husband makes them. Now there's just the receiving line to sort out.’

Mrs Boscastle shook her head. 'Lily and Dirk said they don't want them but I had to over-rule them. They're essential.'

‘They are quite out-dated,' said Sarah, mentally crossing her fingers against the lie. 'But what many of my… er… upmarket clients do nowadays is have two. It makes it move faster.'

‘Two? And how can that possibly make it go faster?’

As Sarah had no idea how, she had to busk it. 'Family members do chat to the parents a bit more, which means people are kept waiting. If they go to the bride and groom first, and then move right away to the family, they pick up momentum.' Sarah was very glad that no one, particularly Hugo, could hear all this drivel – he'd be bound to laugh. Although, if he'd been here, she realised, she'd have felt so much better about the whole thing.