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‘Please, no more stories,’ Jamie begged.

‘You realise this makes me want to know what your friends have to say even more, don’t you?’ Amrita nudged Jamie’s elbow.

‘Don’t worry’ – Katie winked at her – ‘we’ll fill you in later. For now, why don’t you tell us about this wedding you were at? Jamie’s useless for details, but I heard there was a dance…?’

‘I have pictures and videos if you’d like to see them?’

‘Yes please!’ Mia answered. ‘I think we need all the help we can get right now.’

‘Your plans aren’t going well?’

‘Right now we don’t even have the venue confirmed.’ Mia sighed. ‘The one we had chosen fell through.’

‘It’s a shame you can’t get married here,’ Amrita murmured. ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘Yeah.’ Mia shrugged. ‘But Elara – she’s the new owner – isn’t even close to big events like weddings, and the blossoms would have faded before our chosen date anyway. But I’m sure it will work out somehow. I just haven’t figured out how yet.’

‘You’re a lot calmer than I think I would be,’ Amrita admitted.

‘Sometimes you just have to believe things will work out as they’re supposed to.’ Aiden kissed the top of Mia’s head.

‘Exactly,’ Mia agreed, then leaned forward. ‘Anyway, weren’t you going to show me pictures? Maybe I want to steal some ideas.’ She laughed.

‘Sure.’ Amrita pulled out her phone and quickly opened the right album. She started with the pictures from the sangeet.

‘Oh, your dress,’ Mia breathed. ‘It’s so beautiful… and how appropriate that it looks like cherry blossoms. I absolutely love that.’

‘Thanks.’ Amrita smiled and handed over her phone for closer inspection.

* * *

‘These really are delicious.’ Aiden broke one of the samosas open between his fingers and peered at it. ‘The chilli, turmeric and ginger are obvious. Ma?’

Sylvie took a sniff. ‘Green chilli, coriander and garam masala. Salt and pepper, obviously. But there’s at least one… maybe two others I’m not sure about.’

‘Is this a regular game?’ Amrita asked as she reached for a scone.

‘More of an ongoing, good-natured rivalry,’ Sylvie said with a grin. ‘Or it has been since he was old enough to start cooking at home.’

‘You mean since you started criticising my seasoning.’ He laughed. ‘But yes, it’s a game we’ve been playing for years.’ He scooped out some of the filling between his fingers and rubbed it thoughtfully, staring at it intently. When he spoke again, his voice sounded further away – almost dreamy. ‘The coriander was the stems, not the leaves. And you used carom seed. And…’ His eyes locked on Amrita’s and she felt a peculiar fizz of energy. ‘Dried green mango powder?’

‘Yes. Amchoor. Impressive.’

‘Cooking is my… thing.’ He shrugged, and the weird sensation disappeared. ‘Like helping people is yours.’

‘I like to think so.’ She smiled and went back to her scone.

‘What are you doing?’ Jamie exclaimed, horrified.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Putting the cream on first.’

‘It’s just a scone.’ She laughed and reached for the jam.

‘Did you rhyme that with gone?’ Jamie laughed.

‘As opposed to?’