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‘The bride is wearing more than one dress?’

‘Obviously.’ She laughed again. ‘There’s the lehenga for the ceremony, her reception outfit, the party outfits for the events beforehand…’

‘Is your cousin some sort of media personality or something? Or rich?’

‘No. Why?’

‘Because it sounds like a massive event.’

‘Not really. I mean, of course it’s going to be a special day – but as Punjabi weddings go, it’s not that unusual.’

‘Wow.’ Jamie had to stifle a yawn. It had been a really long day. ‘So what does the bridesmaid wear?’

‘For which event? And this time I am teasing – at least a little!’

‘Whichever event you want to tell me about.’ He leaned back, getting comfortable to be able to talk to her longer.

* * *

‘Why are you so quiet?’ Kiranpreet demanded of Amrita, her hands on her hips as she regarded her cousin.

‘Sorry. I’m just thinking.’

‘About the person you keep messaging?’ The bride-to-be flopped into the seat next to her. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Who said it was a guy? Maybe it’s work.’

‘No one gets that doe-eyed over work. Not even you. Spill!’

‘OK, there might be someone…’ She struggled to keep the smile from her face.

‘Really? Even after everything?’ Her eyes widened as Amrita nodded. ‘I knew it! Tell me everything. Who is he? How did you meet? How serious is it? You’re bringing him to my wedding, right?’

‘Kiran… slow down.’ Amrita laughed. ‘Things are quite early still and we’re still getting to know each other. I met him through work⁠—’

‘Is he a doctor?’

‘No.’ She laughed again. ‘He’s not a doctor. He’s an architect.’

‘How on earth does a physiotherapist meet an architect at work?’ Her eyes widened and she added, in a scandalous whisper, ‘He’s not a patient, is he?’

‘No! Of course not. Jamie’s designing a home for one of my patients. He needed some advice on accessible design.’

‘Jamie?’

‘Yeah.’

‘So not Punjabi.’

More statement than question, but Amrita answered anyway. ‘Nope.’ She pressed her lips together, waiting to see what her cousin would think and say. She was usually cosmopolitan and modern in her thinking – but her more traditional side had been showing lately as she’d planned her wedding.

‘Well that’s going to be interesting when the aunties meet him.’ Kiranpreet laughed. ‘And my other question?’

‘Remind me?’

‘You are bringing him to my wedding, right?’

‘Kiran, I did say things are quite early still…’