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are happy. We live a quiet life. You know me. Never one for a wild time.’
    ‘Matt well?’
    ‘He’s great.’ I felt myself relax as I got onto my favourite topic, the general wonderfulness of my gorgeous husband, and my extraordinary luck in catching him. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s kind and he’s witty and he’s caring’ – and he’s never once made me feel bad about not getting pregnant – ‘I don’t know what I’d do without him.He’s my best friend and husband and lover all rolled into one.’ I paused. ‘Sorry, I do go on about him. Pathetic really. But I still feel like a love-struck teenager.’
    ‘No, I think it’s great,’ said Caz. ‘I’ve made such a mess with all that stuff. I’m glad one of us has had a happy ending.’
    ‘Two of us,’ I said. ‘You couldn’t get more loved up than Daz and Dorrie.’
    ‘I’m so glad,’ said Caz. ‘I can’t think why it’s taken them so long to get hitched. I’d have had Dorrie down for becoming Mrs Maitland years ago.’
    ‘She hasn’t said much about it, but I think it was because of her dad,’ I said. ‘She always wanted him to walk her down the aisle, and when he couldn’t, I don’t think she could bear it. Then when he died she went into a bit of a decline really. She seemed very low and her mum is worse. We were all really worried about her for a while. I think the only thing that pulled her out of it has been Woody.’
    ‘I feel so bad about Dorrie’s dad,’ said Caz. ‘I wish I’d known how bad it was. It’s not just my relationships with men that I’ve cocked up. I’ve made a mess of everything.’
    She looked incredibly sad and I felt an unusual feeling of pity for her. I can’t remember ever feeling that about Caz before: frustration, fury, anger, yes. Pity? No. Caz wasn’t someone you pitied.
    ‘It’s never too late to make amends,’ I said, leaning over and touching her hand. ‘I mean, we’ve met up, and Dorrie did invite you to her hen weekend. You know what she’s like. I’m sure she doesn’t hold it against you.’
    ‘That’s another reason I called, actually,’ said Caz. ‘I had an ulterior motive. I felt terrible hearing Doris say she didn’t want any bridesmaids. Things didn’t work out the way weplanned when we were kids, and I’m sure she’d still love them to.’
    ‘Knowing Doris, I’m sure you’re right,’ I agreed. I had felt Doris had been pretty sad about the bridesmaid thing from the minute she’d announced her engagement.
    ‘So, how do you fancy trying to sort it out?’ Caz leaned forward, eyes shining. ‘I mean, I know there’s the slight difficulty of Sarah to contend with – I mean she hates me, right?’
    ‘Well,’ I said, ‘hate’s a pretty strong word, but yup, you could say you’re not her favourite person.’
    ‘But, how about we try to sort out our differences enough for us to give Doris the wedding she deserves?’
    ‘What do you mean?’ I said.
    ‘Eighteen years ago we made a vow. And we’ve failed dismally to keep it so far,’ said Caz. ‘So I think for Doris’s sake, it’s time we actually fulfilled the Bridesmaid Pact.’

Chapter Six
    Sarah
    ‘Good day at work?’ Steve wandered in to the kitchen where I was
     wrestling with the grill pan which had mysteriously got so filthy it had burst into
     flames when I’d grilled sausages for the boys’ tea. William had been so
     terrified it had taken me about half an hour to calm him down, while his older
     brother Sam had laughed him to scorn. Sam was a budding pyromaniac and I was
     slightly concerned he might have picked up a tip or two. William was watching TV in
     the den – it made me smile to think that as an adult I had managed to gain a
     den, when, thanks to Dorrie, I craved one so much as a child; ironic how little
     happiness it now gave me – and Sam was struggling with homework involving him
     writing sentences about going to the park.
    ‘So-so,’ said Steve. He