“Honestly, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I thought you’d gone outside because you were feeling off it.”
“Really, I’m fine. Let’s get back inside.”
“What happened to your dress?”
I glanced down to see that the bottom of it was covered in mud from the Range.
“I—err—it’s quite muddy over there.” I pointed to nowhere in particular. “It’ll brush off. Come on, let’s get inside. I’m starving.”
“Are you okay?” Jack said when I took my seat next to him.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“And your friend?”
“She’s okay.”
“What about the dragon?”
“He’s not feeling so good. His legs will be sore for a few days. Now, where’s that soup?”
The caterers had done us proud. All three courses were delicious, and judging by the empty plates on most of the tables, everyone else thought so too.
“Jill,” someone whispered in my ear.
“Mum?”
“Can I have a word, please?”
“Just a second.” I turned to Jack. “Sorry. My mother wants a word with me.”
He looked around. “Where is she?”
“Right behind me.”
“Hi,” he said in her general direction. “I’m sorry you couldn’t sit up here with us.”
“Who are you talking to?” Kathy chimed in.
While Jack tried to explain his strange behaviour to Kathy, I followed my mother out into the corridor.
“Is something wrong?”
“I don’t like to complain, Jill, but when you said we’d have to sit at the back, I didn’t realise we wouldn’t actually get any food.”
Oh bum! When I’d agreed that my parents would take the ‘empty’ table at the back of the room, it hadn’t occurred to me that they wouldn’t be fed.
“I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay. We don’t want to make a big fuss. If you could just see your way clear to grabbing a few nibbles for us, that would help.”
“Of course. I’ll go and see what I can get now.”
“Thanks, Jill. I’d have done it myself, but I thought it might cause a few raised eyebrows if the nibbles suddenly started to float away. We’ll be in that small room across the corridor. No one will see us eating in there.”
“Okay. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Oh, and Jill, while you’re at it. See if you can find any salmon. That invisible cat of yours has been driving us insane.”
“I’m very angry with you,” Winky said when I delivered the food to the side room.
“Why? I’ve just brought some salmon for you.”
“You made me invisible.”
“You know?”
“Yes, I know. Why would you do something like that?”
“I’m sorry, but it would have been too difficult to explain why I had a pagecat.”
“All the effort I put into my outfit, and posing for photographs. Totally wasted.”
“It wasn’t wasted. You were an important part of the ceremony.”
“When no one could see me?”
“I could see you, and that’s all that matters. You looked great. I was proud to have you as my pagecat.”
“Really? Are you just saying that?”
“No. I mean it. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“I did look good, didn’t I?”
“Absolutely. And I’m really sorry I had to make you invisible.”
“Sorry enough to make it up to me?”
“Err—what did you have in mind?” As if I didn’t already know.
“Salmon every day for a month when you get back from honeymoon.”
“Okay.”
“Red not pink, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
On my way back to join Jack, the twins intercepted me.
“You look really beautiful today, Jill.” Amber gave me a hug.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, you and Jack make a great couple,” Pearl said.
“Thanks, girls. That means a lot.”
“Where are you going on honeymoon?”
“If I told you that, I’d have to kill you both.”
Just then, the DJ put on a slow number.
“I’d better get back to William,” Amber gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “They’re playing our song.”
“That’s mine and Alan’s song!” Pearl said, but Amber was already on her way back across the dancefloor.
“Are you and Alan having a good time?” I said.
“Great, thanks, but we miss Lily.”
“Lily? Don’t you mean Lil?”
“Not any longer. Alan and I decided it’s silly for both girls to be called by the same name, so from now on our little girl will be known as Lily. That should avoid any confusion.”
I wouldn’t bank on it. “That sounds like a great idea. I assume you haven’t mentioned this to Amber yet?”
“We haven’t told anyone yet. We only decided last night.”
“You should definitely tell Amber.”
“I will. Anyway, have a lovely honeymoon wherever it is you’re going.”
“Thanks.”
So long, Lil and Lil. Hello, Lily and Lily.
Snigger.
***
The rest of the day went without a hitch. After I’d changed out of my wedding dress, Jack and I danced the night away, and as far as I could tell, everyone had a great time.
“It’s time we called it a day,” Jack said when it had just turned eleven-thirty. “We have an early flight in the morning.”
“I don’t want this day to end.”
“Who said it has ended?” He led the way upstairs to the honeymoon suite where we—
Never you mind what we got up to. Let’s just say, it was magical.