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‘What? What’s going on?’ Katie demanded.

Aiden slid his arm around Mia’s waist and smiled at her, hoping – even though it sounded too cheesy in his own head to ever risk saying aloud, especially in front of Katie, who would tease him mercilessly – to convey all the promises for the future in his eyes.

‘We’re getting married!’

The shop’s crystals chimed happily, sending a rainbow of light through the air while glitter appeared from nowhere, glistened for a few seconds, then faded again.

Seems the store is pleased for you. Mist looked up from cleaning her whiskers. Felicitations. Officially.

‘Thank you, Mist. Ow! What the hell, Katie?’ Aiden rubbed his arm where she’d smacked him. ‘What was that for?’

‘Being an idiot and getting her into trouble! Mimi, honey’ – Katie wrapped her hands around Mia’s right one – ‘you don’t have to say yes just because he asked. There are other options.’

‘I asked him,’ Mia said with a laugh.

‘You did?’

‘I really did. And he said yes.’ She was smiling more brightly than he’d ever seen.

‘Oh.’ Katie was briefly taken aback but rallied fast. ‘You still don’t have to do this. There are other options. Plenty of women bring up babies by themselves, and you wouldn’t be alone. You know we’d help…’

‘Kitikat, I’m not pregnant. I asked him because I love him.’

‘And I said yes because I love her. And I was a bit scared to say no!’

‘Are you sure?’ Katie shook her head. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, Mimi. But are you? Really sure about this? I mean, you’ve only been dating three months!’

‘Actually…’ Aiden winced. ‘That’s only the… let’s call it “official” timeline. It’s been a bit longer than that.’

‘How much longer?’

‘Quite a bit.’

‘How much longer?’

‘Umm.’ He looked down at Mia. ‘What would you say?’

‘Mid-May?’

‘Eight months?’ Katie gawped, staring at them both. ‘How is that even possible? How didn’t I know?’

‘Sweets.’ Ophelia squeezed her shoulder. ‘I think you’re focussing on the wrong thing. Mia and Aiden are happy – you can see that just looking at them. At least, you might if you stopped being shocked and outraged and worried.’

‘Right. Sorry. Congratulations. Sorry, Aiden.’ Katie looked slightly shame-faced. ‘No offence.’

‘I am a bit offended. I thought you liked me.’

‘Oh, I like you fine.’ Katie flicked her hand at him. ‘But Mia’s basically family.’

‘Fair enough.’ He chuckled.

‘So, show me the ring?’ She waited for Mia to proudly hold out her hand. ‘It’s beautiful, Mimi.’

‘Thank you. It matches the one I gave him.’

‘The one you…?’ She trailed off as Aiden pulled the chain out from beneath his shirt. ‘I wanted to wait until I’d had Mia’s made.’

‘You told me the chain was because of your baking!’ Mia stared at him, mock-outraged.