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her position as if she was frozen in place. Then she looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
    ‘What is it?’ I investigated my champagne silk, strapless, baby-doll dress that accentuated my full breasts and then fell elegantly to my feet. Had I bled from my pincushion legs and ruined the masterpiece?
    ‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to be so…so…Mrs Mathieson is fine, or just Beth.’ She elegantly lifted her petite, sixty-year-old frame from the floor. Lucy handed her a tissue and she dabbed her lightly made-up face.
    ‘It’s ok,’ I gently reassured her. ‘I really don’t mind.’
    ‘No. I should never have been so rude as to suggest such a presumptuous thing,’ Beth apologised through sorrowful sobs. I lifted my dress and stood down from the pedestal of a timber stool, making me a good foot shorter that I had just been. I stood in front of Beth and took hold of her hand.
    ‘You have been more of a mother to me than anyone else. So please believe that I don’t mind,’ I said. I loathed the fact that I people-pleased, but better to do that than have them dislike me.
    Beth hugged me, gently though; the dress was a delicately embroidered piece. ‘Oh, Catherine, thank you.’
    ‘It’s ok.’ I threw Lucy a mischievous grin. ‘Now, come on, let’s get this dress finished so that Lucy can have her turn.’
    ‘Oh, yes!’ Beth said excitedly. ‘I can’t wait to see how that mulberry silk looks against your stunning ruby red hair.’
    From the La-Z-Boy, Lucy rolled her eyes. ‘I’m beside myself with anticipation.’

    After Beth had closed the door behind us, farewelling us with some left-over casserole to supplement my dad’s lack of healthy cuisine, I could feel Lucy watching me inquisitively as we strolled down the lavender-lined path.
    ‘How are your ankles?’ I asked her.
    ‘I’m thankful that my dress is floor length, I can tell you that much; she’s a fucking sadist!’
    I laughed out loud but then replaced my light expression with mock offence. ‘That’s my mother-in-law you are talking about, you know?’
    ‘Lucky you.’
    ‘Yes,’ I sighed deeply as I, with my free hand, rubbed my small pot of a baby belly, ‘lucky me.’
    Lucy reached for the casserole dish to lighten my load. ‘A bit achy today?’
    ‘Just stretching I think.’
    We ambled. ‘It’s so good to have you back, Catey.’
    I eyed her with curiosity. ‘Where’d I go?’
    Lucy raised an incredulous eyebrow and I shrugged in bewilderment. ‘You, my dear girl, took a trip to Roy World and Nick and I thought that you only had a one way ticket. We missed you a lot, so it’s good to have you back where you belong. The three amigos just aren’t as fun with only two.’
    ‘You missed me?’
    ‘Of course.’
    I wondered why Lucy’s voice faltered whenever I asked her about what she really thought of me. That’s the sort of person that I was; always in need of validation. I did wonder that out of the few people that were in my life, why did I need to know how Lucy felt about me more than anyone else? I figured that it was because with everyone else that truly mattered I already knew for sure, however much I denied it. But with Lucy something seemed put on, or forced, even. It was as if she was friendly toward me out of obligation and not because she wanted to be. It just really irked me. If I had another choice for a bridesmaid I wouldn’t have chosen the pixie look-alike next to me. I don’t meant to sound unappreciative, I know people are not lining up to be my friend, but with Lucy I knew that I could never let my guard down. I never knew if she had my true interests at heart or whether she was lying in wait, waiting for me to fuck up royally. Perhaps my trust issues were just too deep to overcome with everybody. Whatever this feeling was about Lucy, I’d work out what it was one day.
    ‘Well, I’m sorry,’ I said because I realised I was distracted by my own thoughts for too long, ‘but