A summer WEDDING

It seemed everyone had found their happy ever after - except Hannah

Hannah glanced at her watch and heaved a sigh of relief. All that remained was for them to say their polite goodbyes to the bride's parents, then she and her mother Kate could leave. How on earth her mother had talked her into helping out at a wedding was beyond her.

'It'll only take a few hours of your time,' Kate had assured her. 'And you keep complaining about being broke.'

Kate had set up her small catering business 10 years ago, after separating from Hannah's father. Starting her own company at 50 had given her a new lease of life, and it helped to pay the bills and fund the city breaks she was so fond of.

This particular Saturday, one of her employees had called in sick at the last minute and Hannah had reluctantly agreed to cover for him.

However, now that the plates and glasses had been cleared away, and the guests had spilled out of the marquee into the garden, Hannah was eager to leave. Since she'd turned 30, friends and colleagues had started hooking up and marrying like it was going out of fashion. And every time Hannah was obliged to attend one of these 'joyous occasions', she was reminded of her own singledom and inability to meet anyone she found vaguely attractive.

It was while Hannah was pondering her deep aversion to weddings that she heard her mother's voice piping up from a short distance away.

'Ooo lovely! Just the one, then, to wet my whistle.'

Hannah scanned the garden for her mother who, minutes ago, had been standing next to her. She spotted her beside the rose garden, smiling at the retreating back of a suited guest, and hurried over to her. 'Mum, what are you doing?'

'That nice young man offered me a drink, darling, and it seemed churlish to refuse.'

Hannah tutted.

'Oh stop being a party pooper, Han.'

'Party pooper! We're supposed to be providing a service not...'