There would be a string quartet, but Mona loved Gabi’s suggestion that she and James dance their first dance to the same record that her grandparents had.
And a wedding, a very beautiful one, was finally starting to be born.
It was a rather more glowing bride-to-be who returned to the lounge area and now chatted happily with Fleur and Marianna about plans.
And it was a bemused Gabi who looked up and saw Ms Blonde angrily striding through the foyer; she didn’t know why, but she would bet her life’s savings that Alim had uncoiled her, unwilling, from his arms.
Then later, much later, when plans were starting to be put more firmly in place, Gabi called Rosa with the official dates.
‘I’m already working on the dress,’ Rosa said. ‘She’s cutting it terribly fine to wear one of my gowns, even ready-to-wear.’
And, after a long, tiring day taking care of others, Gabi did something for herself.
She was all glowing and happy from that tiny exchange with Alim. Of course his lover’s departure could have nothing to do with her, but Gabi was a dreamer, and already her mind was turning things around.
‘Can I come and try on the silver dress?’ she asked.
It was wonderful to dream of Alim.