the women’s room and though it was exciting and fun to see so many relatives and people she knew, she was fairly bursting by the time she finally made it into the ladies’ room – all flowered wallpaper and black basins – and shot into a cubicle. It wasn’t until she tugged down the zip at her back that she realised two things. One: the zip had snagged at the level of her bra strap. Two: she was quite alone.
How could that be, with a hundred women at the wedding?
She stretched over her shoulder with one hand and up her back with the other, trying in vain to tug free. Swearing, she exited the cubicle and waited by the basins for a minute, sure that a helpful female would come in soon, then gave up and opened the door to the foyer.
Just as Nico Pettersson strolled by, heading towards the nearby men’s room. ‘Nan Heather’s kindly watching the kids for a minute,’ he called.
Hannah was so uncomfortable by now that she was nearly dancing on the spot. ‘My zip’s stuck,’ she hissed. ‘These bloody silly jumpsuits!’
Laughter jumped into his eyes. ‘Turn around and I’ll fix it.’
Hannah, face on fire, complied. It took him a tug or two, a touch of warm fingertips on her skin, then he shifted the zip a couple of inches down, murmuring, ‘There you go.’
‘Thank you.’ Telling herself that the heat she felt was embarrassment, Hannah motored off into the loo.
Next time she saw him he’d returned to his table and been cornered by Amanda Louise who’d dragged up a seat and was leaning forward and talking intently, legs crossed and an elbow propped elegantly on one knee. She was an attractive woman, Hannah admitted to herself grudgingly as she checked on Nan, now happily occupied chatting to a cousin of Jeremy’s. One of Rob’s mates, a guy who owned the village garage, came up to shake Nico’s hand and Amanda Louise looked miffed.
Hannah’s attention was diverted when Maria scampered up with an adorable, pearly-toothed, wrinkle-nosed smile. ‘It’s our elephant,’ she announced.
Hannah giggled. ‘What is?’
Josie arrived breathlessly. ‘She means “it’s irrelevant”. She heard me say it and “it’s our elephant” is her version. Now she keeps saying it because it makes people laugh. Is there cake left on your table?’
As the three half-full tiers were at Hannah’s elbow Josie was obviously being polite but Hannah pretended surprise. ‘Why yes! What do you fancy?’
‘Elephant!’ suggested Maria.
Josie giggled. ‘There isn’t any elephant, silly. I think you’ll like this icing one. It looks like a mouse.’
‘Mouse.’ Maria nodded, clambering onto a chair in her white lacy tights.
Josie selected a custard tart and peeped at Hannah from the corner of her eye. ‘You know my dad, don’t you?’
‘Mydad,’ Maria pronounced, pointing a crumb-encrusted finger at Nico.
‘From when we were teenagers,’ Hannah agreed, selecting a chocolate brownie. ‘Rob, the groom, is my brother. Your dad was his best mate and used to come to our house. And his dad, Lars, is your granddad, right? I knew him too. He was lovely.’
‘What was Dad like?’ Josie looked fascinated over this ancient history.
Hannah dropped her voice so Nico couldn’t hear. ‘He was an amazing ice hockey player. Fast and crazy. We thought he’d play professionally.’
Josie looked faintly surprised. ‘Well, he doesn’t. He’s my dad.’
Their cakes disposed of, Josie lifted Maria off her chair, made an ineffectual attempt to clean her hands with the stiff wedding napkin then towed her across the polished floor, Maria squealing like a whistle.
Hannah glanced at Nico. Amanda Louise was still talking but Nico was watching the girls.
Then he looked over Amanda Louise’s shoulder at Hannah and smiled.
Hannah’s breath stopped in her throat.
Day had segued into evening and a function band on stage belted out popular tunes. Rob and Leesa were on their twentieth dance at least, faces alight, turning to talk to people but never quite breaking their embrace.
Hannah had danced with cousins, old school friends, with Nan and with Mum. She’d also drunk a lot of fizz. She was thinking about grabbing a seat when Nico appeared beside her. She hadn’t seen him for a while, nor Amanda Louise either, a fact she knew shouldn’t concern her. ‘Nan Heather’s a marvel,’ he said.
She laughed. ‘In so many ways! What’s she done?’
‘Got me a babysitter.’ He’d shucked off his jacket and his white shirt lay open at the neck. ‘Someone she knows is happy to sit in the room with the girls and knit and watch TV so