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TheI’m aware that people on Lucy’s side of the church are still darting nore theether this man and this woman in holy matrimony," intones the vicar, "which is an honorable estate…"

The bridesot really nice shoes, I notice I wonder where they’re froh

"… reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God…"

He pauses to look around the congregation, just as I hear a little trilling sound co

Shit It’s my phone

I pull at the zip -- but it’s stuck I don’t believe this You buy an expensive bag, and the bloody zip sticks

There’s another, louder trill At the front of the church, Angela Harrison turns round in her pew and gives et it…"

As it trills for a third ti And oh God, now Toiving another frantic tug at the zip "I’ll just… try to…"

Face burning, I stand up, squeeze my way past the row of people, and hurry out of the church As the door clangs shut behindundone I scrabble inside for the phone, and jab at the green button

"Hello?" I say breathlessly into the !" says a cheery voice "Would you be interested in adding a hundredoff my phone I creep back into the church, where the rest of the service goes by in a blur When it’s all over, Lucy and To raveyard to throw confetti and take photos I slip aithout anyone noticing, and hurry feverishly up the road to the Websters’ house Because Luke must be there by now He must He must have arrived late, and decided not to coht to the reception It’s obvious, when you think about it It’s what any sensible person would do

I hurry through the Websters’ house, which is full of caterers and waitresses -- and head straight for the marquee There’s already a joyful s hi his face crease up in laughter--

But the marquee’s empty Completely empty

I stand there, bewildered, for a few ain and hurry toward my parents’ house Because maybe Luke went there, instead, it suddenly occurs to ed into his wedding outfit Or maybe--

But he’s not there either Not in the kitchen, not upstairs And when I dial his es

Slowly, I walk intonot to letinto ain He’s just… on his way

Through theI can see To to arrive in next door’s garden There are lots of hats and ne In fact, it all looks rather jolly And I know I should be down there with them, but I just can’t face it Not without Luke, not all onthere for a while, it occurs to ue They’ll all think I can’t face the happy couple and that I’ my wrists somewhere It’ll confiro and show my face, even if just for half an hour

I force myself to stand up, take a deep breath, and put some fresh lipstick on Then I walk out of the house and round to the Websters’ I slip inconspicuously into thefor aabout everywhere, and the hubbub is huge, and no one even notices me Near the entrance, there’s a formal lineup with To near that So instead I sidle off to an empty table and sit down, and after a bit a waitress cone

For a while I just sit there, sippingsound in front of ht in front of e bridesreen (Which I think says quite a lot about Lucy)