"And I realize that this coldness, this stiffness has been at the root of many of my recent problems." George brushed some fluff off the door of the glove compartment.

The traffic ahead began to move again. Jean put the car into gear and pulled away.

George laid his hand over hers. This made changing gear a little difficult.

"I love you," said George.

They had not said that word to one another for a long time. There was a lump in her throat.

She glanced sideways and saw that George was looking at her and smiling.

"I've made things terribly difficult for you recently."

"There's no need to apologize," said Jean.

"But I'm going to change," said George. "I'm tired of feeling frightened. I'm tired of feeling lonely."

He put his hand on her thigh, leaned back and closed his eyes.

And she realized that her adventure was coming to an end. That she and David might never make love again. But it was all right.

Her life with George was not an exciting life. But wouldn't life with David go the same way eventually?

Perhaps the secret was to stop looking for greener gra.s.s. Perhaps the secret was to make the best of what you had. If she and George talked a little more. If they went on a few more holidays...

The rain had stopped. Jean turned the wipers off and the register office came into sight on the right-hand side of the road.

She indicated and pulled into the car park.

125.

George was having a very enjoyable time indeed. a very enjoyable time indeed.

They parked the car and walked toward the stone arch at the back of the register office where everyone was gathering for photographs.

"Come on, Dad." Katie took his arm and guided him down the little path.

He was Katie's father. It felt good being Katie's father.

He was giving his daughter away. And that was a good feeling, too. Because he was giving her away to a good man. Giving her away Giving her away. What a strange phrase it was. Slightly antique. Sharing Sharing. That would be a better word. Though that sounded a little strange, too.

But where was Jamie?

He asked Katie.

"He's looking for you," said Katie, smiling in a way that was rather difficult to interpret.

Why was Jamie looking for him? He was about to ask when the photographer moved Katie forward and she began talking to Ray. George made a mental note to ask her again at some later point.

The photographer looked very like Ray's best man. What was his name again? Perhaps it really was Ray's best man. Perhaps they were not having an official photographer.

"Come on, people," said the photographer. "Try not to look quite so glum."

He had a very small camera. He probably wasn't a real photographer.

Ed. That was his name.

George smiled.

Ed took four photographs then asked Katie and Ray to stand in front of the arch.

As they were moving aside, the man standing next to George introduced himself. George shook his hand. The man apologized for not having introduced himself earlier in the day. George told him not to worry. The man introduced his wife. George shook her hand, too. They seemed like very nice people.

A woman appeared from the register office. George thought, at first, that she was an air stewardess.

"If the party would like to make their way inside..."

George stepped aside for the ladies, then walked into the register office with the men.

It was possible that the nice couple were Ray's parents. That would explain why they were all standing together having their photographs taken. He would check with Jean when they were sitting down inside.

126.

They were in the car halfway to the register office when Katie looked out of the window and saw a tramp urinating against a bus stop on Thorpe Road, which was not something you saw very often, and it seemed like a sign from G.o.d, who obviously a) had a sense of humor, and b) agreed with Ray. Expect the day to proceed with dignity and efficiency and someone was going to screw it up. Better to be together in twenty years and laugh about it, than have it run like clockwork and split up twelve months down the line. the car halfway to the register office when Katie looked out of the window and saw a tramp urinating against a bus stop on Thorpe Road, which was not something you saw very often, and it seemed like a sign from G.o.d, who obviously a) had a sense of humor, and b) agreed with Ray. Expect the day to proceed with dignity and efficiency and someone was going to screw it up. Better to be together in twenty years and laugh about it, than have it run like clockwork and split up twelve months down the line.

Poor Jamie. At least he'd have a good story to tell.

Perhaps they could go round to his flat after Barcelona. Do the vows all over again. Get some confetti. Jacob would like that.

A fine drizzle began spattering the windscreen. It didn't matter. Snow, hail, driving rain. She understood now. You got married in spite of your wedding not because of it. She looked over at Ray and he broke into a smile without taking his eyes off the road.

For the next few minutes they seemed to exist in a little bubble entirely cut off from the wet world around them. Then the register office loomed into view and they pulled in through the gateway and the crowd of guests looked like exotic fish against the brickwork of the building.

They pulled into the car park and got out and the drizzle had stopped and Mum and Dad were getting out of the car next to them. And Dad was staring up into the air so intently that Katie looked up expecting to see a hot-air balloon or a flock of birds, but there was nothing up there whatsoever.

Mum cupped her hand round Dad's elbow and steered him toward the stone arch at the back of the building.

Sarah was singing "Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg" and swinging Jacob over a puddle. "The Batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker broke his leg."

Ray took her arm and they followed Mum and Dad and they were spotted by Uncle Douglas who was smoking downwind, and everyone broke into a loud cheer.

They reached the arch and Sandra ran up and hugged her, then Mona hugged her, and Uncle Doug held his lit cigarette out of the way and said, "You sure about this, la.s.s?" and she was about to deliver some witty put-down (Uncle Doug was a bit of a b.u.m-squeezer) but she could see that he meant it so she didn't.

Mona was already monopolizing Ray for a rapid grilling, having not met him yet, and the crowd parted and she saw Jenny in a wheelchair, which was a shock, and Katie bent down and hugged her and Jenny said, "Bit of relapse. Sorry," and Katie suddenly realized why she needed that second ticket and Jenny said, "This is Craig," and Katie shook hands with the young man standing behind the chair and hoped that this was an actual relationship, because that would be brilliant, although now wasn't the time for questions.

Then Ed was marshaling them for photographs, and Katie stood with Ray looking out at everyone and it was like being in front of a bar fire, all this warmth being directed their way, though Eileen and Ronnie looked a little sour, which was probably due to it not being a church and other people enjoying themselves.

Then the registrar appeared wearing a slightly frumpy navy blue suit and one of those chiffony neckties that everyone else stopped wearing at the end of the Second World War, and they were allowed inside the building which was a bit like her doctor's surgery in London. All cream paint and helpful leaflets and heavy-duty carpeting. But there was a big vase of flowers and the registrar was actually quite cheery and said, "If the bride and bridegroom would like to come with me, and the guests would like to follow my colleague..."

The registrar ran them quickly through the timetable for the ceremony. Then they heard the Bach double-violin piece start up and it sounded like something from a film soundtrack. Horse-drawn carriage, big house, frocks. And Katie thought, b.u.g.g.e.r segues, they should have gone for James Brown throughout. But it was too late now.

They walked round the corner to the big room at the end and waited outside while the registrar went in and said, "Could I ask you all to stand for the entrance of the bride and groom," and they went into the room where it all happened and it was very neat and very pink with velvet curtains. And Mum smiled at her. And Katie smiled back. And Dad appeared to be studying an old ticket of some kind that he'd found in his pocket.

And as they reached the front Katie saw, lying on the table, a silk cushion hemmed with fake diamonds on little ta.s.sels. For the ring, presumably.

"Please be seated," said the registrar.

Everyone sat down.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," said the registrar. "May I begin by welcoming you all here today to the Peterborough register office, for the marriage of Katie and Ray. Today marks a new beginning in their lives together..."

Katie closed her eyes for Sarah's reading and sort of hummed inside her head so she didn't really have to listen ("Your friend is your needs answered. He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving..."). She wondered if they could make a little wedding cake for the second ceremony in Jamie's kitchen. Date and walnut on the inside. A little sugar Batman on the top for Jacob.

"For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Sarah sat down and the registrar stood up and said, "It is one of my duties to inform you that this room in which we are now met has been duly sanctioned according to law for the celebration of marriages. You are here to witness the joining in marriage of Ray Peter Jonathon Phillips and Katie Margaret Hall. If any person present knows of any lawful impediment why these two people may not be joined in marriage he or she should declare it now."

And something happened in Katie's heart, and she realized it wasn't just two people being joined together, not even two families. She felt as if she were joining hands with everyone who'd done this before her, just as she'd done after giving birth to Jacob, a feeling that she finally belonged, that she was a part of the whole enterprise, a brick in that great arch which rose out of the dark behind you and swung over your head and curved into the future, and she was helping to keep it strong and solid, and helping to protect everyone beneath it.

The registrar asked her and Ray to stand and hold hands, and there were tears in her eyes, and the registrar said, "Before you are joined in matrimony here today I have to remind you both of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make..." but Katie wasn't really listening anymore. She was up there, looking down, and the roomful of people was so tiny she could fit it into the palm of her hand.

127.

Jean heard a little squeak just as Katie and Ray were beginning their vows. She turned round and saw Jamie slip into the room and stand behind that nice young lady in the wheelchair. squeak just as Katie and Ray were beginning their vows. She turned round and saw Jamie slip into the room and stand behind that nice young lady in the wheelchair.

Now everything was perfect.

"Why I, Katie Margaret Hall," said Katie.

"May not be joined in matrimony," said the registrar.

"May not be joined in matrimony," said Katie.

"To Ray Peter Jonathon Phillips," said the registrar.

Jean turned to look at Jamie for a second time. What on earth had happened to him? He looked as if he'd been dragged through a hedge backward.

"To Ray Peter Jonathon Phillips," said Katie.

Jean's heart sank a little.

"Now the solemn moment has come," said the registrar, "for Ray and Katie to contract their marriage before you, their witnesses, families and friends."

Then Jean remembered that her heart was not allowed to sink. Not now. Jamie had been doing a good thing. And these people were good people. They would sympathize.

"So can I ask you all to stand," said the registrar, "and join together for the celebration of their marriage."

Everyone stood.

They would get home and Jamie could change into new clothes and everything would be perfect again.

"Ray," said the registrar, "will you take Katie to be your wedded wife, to share your life with her, to love, support and comfort her whatever the future may bring?"

"I will," said Ray.

"Katie," said the registrar, "will you take Ray to be your wedded husband, to share your life with him, to love, support and comfort him whatever the future may bring?"

"I will," said Katie.

From several rows back, Jean heard Douglas say, "You go, girl."

128.

George looked around the room and felt oddly fond of all these people. the room and felt oddly fond of all these people.

It was not something he was accustomed to feeling at family gatherings.

He squeezed Jean's hand. He was in love with his wife. It made him feel warm inside.

Everything was going to be different from now on.

What, in any case, was frightening about death? It came to everyone sooner or later. It was a part of life. Like going to sleep, minus the waking up.

And there was Jamie, arriving late, as children usually did.

Jamie was a h.o.m.os.e.xual. And what was wrong with that? Nothing whatsoever. So long as one was hygienic.

And there was his husband beside him. Boyfriend. Partner. Whatever the word was. He would ask Jamie later.

No. That was the man who was operating the wheelchair for the crippled girl, wasn't it. Plump. Scruffy hair. Beard. Obviously not a h.o.m.os.e.xual now that George thought about it.

Even Douglas and Maureen were all right, really. A little vulgar. A little loud. But everyone had their faults.