with a saucepan. Instead she looked to Cat who was trying her best to catch Niall’s eye like an awkward teenager; Nell hoped it was to let him know she was sorry for Brenda and not another attempt at flirting. She tried one more time to help her friend have the wedding of her dreams.

‘Cat, you loved the idea of the Mississippi macaroons and you said they were the best thing you’d ever tasted. And you said pumpkin pies were a dead cert.’

‘Nell, it’s fine,’ Cat replied sternly. ‘I don’t mind.’

Maybe divide and conquer would work. ‘Cat, can you just help me find that cocktail idea we were working on? It’s in my living room. Niall could you just top up the mince pies upstairs? I’m sure they’re going down a treat. And Brenda, while we do that why don’t you have one of Niall’s amazing chocolate truffles?’ Nell took one off the platter and shoved it into Brenda’s face. She looked horrified like the calories were already jumping out and turning parts of her body into fat. Nell took Cat by the arm and led her into the living room of her tiny flat.

‘We weren’t working on a cocktail idea,’ Cat said, folding her arms over her chest. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Cat, I love you. So please don’t be mad at me but you’ve got to stop letting your mum bully you so much. It’s like the mum in What’s Your Number? who keeps saying she won’t come to the wedding if her ex-husband’s there—’

‘Just for once will you stop with the romcom movies, Nell,’ Cat exploded. The vehemence in her voice nearly knocked Nell over. ‘Life isn’t like a romcom movie. It’s not just a giant misunderstanding that somehow rights itself in the end.’

Nell’s cheeks stung like she’d been slapped. ‘Maybe not, but Brenda’s taking over everything, telling you what you can and can’t have at your wedding and undoing all the decisions you’ve been so sure of. You’ve got to stand up to her.’ Cat didn’t respond, just dropped her eyes to the floor. ‘Maybe Kieran should come with you next time. I know he wants to be more involved in the wedding.’ At the mention of his name Cat lifted her head.

‘Kieran? He wouldn’t know where to begin in planning a wedding.’

‘But he’d be there to back you up against your mum.’

‘She’s just trying to help.’

‘I know, darling.’ Nell stepped forward and took Cat’s hands, but they hung limply in hers. ‘But she’s not helping, is she? She’s making you miserable. She’s planning a second wedding for herself, not your one. Every decision should be about what you and Kieran want and no one else. I mean this in the nicest possible way but stop being such a wet blanket before you end up having a wedding for her and not you. It’s not like you. I don’t know where the real you has gone lately.’

‘What do you mean the real me?’ Cat fired back, yanking her hands away and wrapping them over her chest once more. ‘I’m right here. I’m just trying to be considerate of other people’s feelings, that’s all. Which is more than I can say for you right now.’

Nell didn’t want to fight and figured the wet blanket comment had been a bit too much. ‘Cat, I’m sorry I—’

‘Just let me make whatever decisions I want for my wedding, okay? And if I choose to have a quiet life then that is my choice and you should accept it.’

‘I just want you to turn up on your wedding day and look around and see everything you’ve ever wanted, that’s all.’

‘I’m a grown woman, Nell. I know what I’m doing. Maybe Mum’s right. When you’re planning your own wedding, you’ll understand.’

Quietly gasping in a breath, Nell closed her mouth. From Brenda the remark hadn’t hurt but from Cat it was like a knife in her back. She briefly thought about challenging Cat on her flirting with Niall, but she’d been much better today and had sworn that she hadn’t realised she was doing it before. Nell decided not to mention it now as the atmosphere was tense enough. ‘But what about Kieran? It’s his wedding too. What does he want?’

‘Kieran wouldn’t have a clue. Look, I love him, but he knows about gardening and flowers. He doesn’t know about planning a wedding.’

‘I think if you give him a chance—’

‘Oh, just mind your own business, Nell. You think you know everything about romance and weddings and love because you’ve watched some movies, but you don’t. You’re supposed to be my friend and friends support each other.’ Cat spun on her heel and flounced out of the flat back to the kitchen.

Nell remained in her small living room, shell-shocked. She and Cat never argued, and even if they did it was in a jokey fake manner and they always managed to come to some agreement in the end. This was totally new, and Nell didn’t like it one bit. Just then her phone beeped with a message. It was Tom. The mayor had arrived. Rolling her shoulders back and taking a deep breath, she decided to leave Cat and Brenda to it and get back to her event.

As she walked through the kitchen to see Cat very close to Niall, Nell said, ‘Niall, could you bring the mulled wine up, please? The mayor’s here.’ Then let the door swing shut behind her.

Though she hadn’t been downstairs long, the wreath-making was in full swing when she came back up. They were looking lovely and all so different. An older lady, who had a real eye for it, had made one of dark red ribbon and studded it with silver pine cones and tiny sprigs of holly. Others were more traditional and full of festive greenery. So many joyful faces greeted her it felt like Holly Lodge was full of life, love and Christmas spirit. It was just a shame it hadn’t reached the basement.

‘Ah, there you

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