Pictures of Lily

organised person I know.’ He laughs. ‘Nine months is ages .’
    ‘Nathan and Lucy were engaged for two years.’
    ‘Yeah, but they got engaged almost as soon as they got together. Lucy’s mum would have gone nuts if they’d tied the knot straight away. Anyway, Nathan wanted to save up so he could do it properly. We don’t need to save up; business is great. And we could always do it mid-week like this and still get a great venue for lower rates.’
    ‘Stop rushing me into it!’ It comes out of my mouth before I have time to think it.
    ‘ Nice .’ He pushes his plate away, disgruntled.
    ‘Sorry.’ I put my hand on his arm. ‘I don’t mean to be awkward. I’m still getting used to the idea.’ I try to placate him. ‘You know what I’m like about marriage.’
    He turns and regards me with hooded eyes. ‘No. I don’t know what you’re like about marriage. Why don’t you enlighten me?’
    I remove my hand from his arm. ‘You don’t understand. Your mum and dad have been happily married for thirty-odd years. Mine lasted a few months before they split up and my mum has been running for the hills every time the M word has been spoken ever since.’
    Richard lets out a sharp laugh. ‘Your mother is hardly the best role model though, is she?’
    ‘Now you’re starting to piss me off,’ I say darkly.
    ‘Sorry.’ He reaches across the table to give my hand another squeeze. ‘Let’s talk about it later.’
    ‘That’s what I wanted to do in the first place,’ I mutter.
    ‘Well, you’re getting your own way,’ he replies pedantically, letting go of my hand.
    I put down my fork on my plate a little too noisily and turn to the people sitting next to me, Lucy’s stepbrothers Nick and Tom. I don’t know if they were aware that Richard and I were having a barney, but they make a good show of hiding it.

Chapter 14
     
    Nathan and Lucy got married on a Thursday, so the next day I have to go into work as usual. Tetlan’s offices are only a short walk from Circular Quay. It’s an amazing location. Definitely makes working here that little bit easier. Not that it’s hard. But I think that’s the point. It’s not challenging. It’s glamorous, sure, sitting here at this big, interior-designed, glossy front desk in a double-height ceiling, hi-tech lobby, but the most exciting thing I get up to is laminating passes for new employees. Either that or ordering sandwiches and setting up the boardrooms for executive meetings. Not really something you need a degree for.
    Not that I have a degree. I didn’t go to university. My grades weren’t good enough. At one point Ben inspired me to work harder and really make something of myself, but then he went and left. Not that I’m blaming him. I’m not bitter. Not about that, at least.
    I’m bombarded with questions from Nicola before I even sit down at our receptionists’ front desk.
    ‘How did it go? What did she look like? Have you got pictures?’
    Nicola loves weddings. I once joked that she was like Muriel out of Muriel’s Wedding , but she didn’t find it very funny.
    ‘It went beautifully, Lucy wore a gorgeous, long, simple dress, and no, I haven’t got pictures.’
    ‘Dammit!’ Nicola says crossly. ‘Why not?’
    ‘What do you mean, why not ?’
    ‘Don’t you have a digital camera?’
    ‘No.’
    She pulls a face. ‘Seriously? Everyone’s got a digital camera.’
    ‘Not me,’ I say firmly.
    ‘Don’t tell me you still use film.’
    ‘I don’t use anything.’
    ‘You haven’t got a camera?’
    ‘I’ve got a camera on my phone. That’s enough for me.’
    ‘Why didn’t you take any photos with that?’ she screeches.
    ‘I was too busy enjoying myself,’ I snap jokily.
    She huffs and turns her back on me while I switch on my computer. Then Mel’s Gucci handbag plonks onto the stool next to me and I look up to see its owner standing there.
    ‘Good morning,’ she chirps brightly. ‘How was the wedding?’
    ‘She didn’t even take photos,’ Nicola cries from behind Mel. The three of us sit in a row, with Mel in the middle.
    ‘Didn’t you?’ Mel asks with mild surprise. ‘Did they have a professional photographer?’
    ‘A friend of a friend was doing it,’ I say. ‘All the photos will be on the website and will be free to download next week.’
    ‘Why didn’t you say so?’ Nicola beams.
    Mel gives me a look and mouths ‘Muriel’ before clasping her hands together. ‘Who’s for tea?’
    ‘Yes, please,’