ou're fina

out of her seat when she s

y handbag down before she

disappeared for five y

're

ooked at her. "Good

kin on her lap. "I've been listening to her c

ds Mum and kis

evenin

darling. You

nk y

pty chair beside Is

The traffic

r arms. "You alway

left my car in the middle

a serious expression

omething and

picking u

ell you people anything. No

"You should have seen her face when I

did

pt checking the entra

rds Mum. "Mummy, why

allow me to enjoy

ghed

ven though I spoke to Isabella almost every day, there was a difference bet

d at he

Bride, where is

ediatel

o take a call. He

ady taking business calls

inner," she corrected. "I

you want t

Mum added. "But he's bee

nced

met him be

ve me

ink your sister would get engaged wi

. "I'm on

eks," Mum continued. "Sometimes I wonder if sh

um

Am I

hed for her g

ou. Can we talk ab

d close

u tell me how

ed drama

ace, and he was there with some business associates. We go

ept all th

st didn't want to tell you until

odd

understa

wanted to su

certainly

iled p

ve one between us. She could talk for hours about something that made her h

he looked ge

hing would

s he like?

ile wi

king. He listens to me, ev

That's a ver

eli

just bein

chuc

nored me an

ll him. Sometimes, I don't even realise he has been paying

hed he

t. There was something d

sure about h

ed strai

m s

ed for

m happy

ession s

lly wanted you to

ezed h

I wouldn't

ready to order. We placed our orders, and Isabell

evenings to crowded parties and wasn't particul

ked a

lf a man who doesn't like questions

st out

op

g to understand

hat. He just lik

ook he

. You've been questioning this p

ing him for

im away before he gets

turned my attent

ater, Mum asked

hotel project

tened s

n proposal. The client wants something elegant,

u've always enjo

g the difference between what a place loo

a looke

esigns. I still want you to help m

aug

ust planning to get fre

ot

lieva

st you girls still

who started it,

eplied. "It's ne

rwards, and the conversation

t colours, flowers, the guest list

ething simple but el

ked a

ple?

piece of t

ser

you wanted something simple, yo

ard she had to p

true. I

erent styles," I

different st

lease eat

nd took an

like this. The three of us laughing, arguing o

pression chan

have been very happ

Isabella's

now,

at my plate

occasions when his absence felt particularly noticeable.

ogated the poor man before all

ughed

would have wanted to know

he would have followed him ar

iced Mum's eyes had b

the table and t

be proud o

no

so, da

nts, none of u

suddenly cla

moments. I want to enj

aug

t us here and now you're

has to keep this

ce w

ce t

her head

when Isabella glanced

he's

r hair and adjusted th

at her an

ou suddenl

ot ner

cked your hai

eli

ed bot

t. I'll

heard footsteps ap

ate," a man'

," Mum repl

her face lighting u

er," she compla

I had an imp

have an impo

leaned down to k

e now, a

d and too

them for

comfortabl

them for

abella lean closer to him, laughi

on I've been telling you

htened i

e to fina

rds s

turned t

e restaurant see

derstand why my mind was refusing

miliar

arp ja

had spent years

o

ldn't

ightened aro

ked, although he recov

oment, neithe

abella

om him to me, her

Why are you two staring

way, reaching for

said, forcing

as further fr

my sister was someone I had spe

going to become