“I should have taken my plane.” Ava applied lip-gloss, tilting the phone screen to catch her reflection. Finished, she deftly threw the cosmetic in the nearest bin.

“It’s in Canada for the ski trip.” Louise’s tiny face glared at her from the screen.

“My double gets better holidays than I do.”

“Pouting causes wrinkles, an accessory no bride needs the day before her walk down the aisle,” Louise blurted, wincing immediately at her slip.

Unconcerned, Ava changed the pout to her much practiced Monroe smile and tilted her head. “Tell me I look like Hilda Bosch in Runaway to Forever.

Her hand fluttered over an enticing gossip magazine on the newsstand, fingertips prickling at the thought of touching the glossy, fake Hollywood smiles on the cover. Ava clenched her fist.

“She was a real superstar. Not like the tramps nowadays.” The smiled dissolved. “Get my plane back, Louise. Tell Irving to fly here straight away. Tonia and her cronies can find their own way back from Canada.”

“Mandy’s plan…”

“Mandy can shove her plan. Who lets their therapist plan their wedding?”

Silence.

Ava twisted the plain gold ring on her finger. Her eyes narrowed when they settled on an enamoured couple, limbs intertwined and oblivious to the airport crowds. “You should see this place—people touching things—each other.” She gently teased the ring back and forth over a chafed finger. “Just get me on any damn flight now!”

“I’m booking you on Ganda Airlines, business class. I’ll text you the e-ticket reference number. It leaves in three hours.”

“Three hours? I’ve already been here two.”

Off came the ring, thrust quickly onto another finger, cruelly cutting into the raw skin.

“Pangaean Airlines has collapsed and everyone on those flights wants out. I know someone at Ganda who bumped the list for me.”

An oversized tourist, heavily laden with luggage brushed past Ava’s shoulder as the Tannoy droned incomprehensibly. He unfolded his well-worn map and stared bewildered at it. Ava stepped nimbly aside, weaving her way through the milling crowds and began to brush her shoulder vigorously.

“Track down who owns that shitty airline and threaten them with the biggest lawsuit my lawyers can dump on them. I can’t leave this airport without my bag.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Scott, the official response is they aren’t releasing any baggage.”

Ava put a finger delicately to her ear in an attempt to block out the rising argument from a nearby couple. She squeezed her way through to the seating beside the windows, the runway clearly visible from the pre-security lounge. Her heart lurched as she watched a continuous progression of planes taking off, mocking everyone still stranded at the airport.

“This is ridiculous. Don’t they realise who I am? I need that dress. I don’t care about the rest of the luggage, but I can’t do without the dress. It’s vintage Chanel. It’s unique!”

“That’s just it, Miss Scott, they don’t know because of your… desire not to be known. You can’t have it both–”

“I can have it any damn way I want! I’m Ava Scott.” The gold ring flicked back and forth between fingers. “This is one of the most important journeys of my life. I’m stuck here and my dress is in some dark hell-hole filled with rats.” The ring caught on her knuckle. “I can’t get married in some tacky resort-bought bikini.”

Louise’s hands tapped away on her keyboard and she murmured absentmindedly, “It was good enough for Pamela.”

“Are you seriously putting me in the same league as her? I had three Oscar nominations last year alone.”

Louise stopped typing and looked squarely into the screen. “Apologies, Miss Scott, I just meant a wedding is more than just a dress. I’ll sort out alternative details while you’re en route. I’ll get one of our people to come to the airport and stand there till they release the luggage.”

Ava breathed in deeply and glanced around at the seething crowds flapping their defunct airline tickets at one another.

“Mandy said she’d call you when you get to the island. She wanted to remind you that you’re doing this journey for Beau and for you.”

Ava wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye and rotated her ring with her thumb. “I am doing well, aren’t I? I’ve hardly used the wipes and I’ve even taken my gloves off. Where’s Beau?”

“He’s about to board his flight. He’ll be on the island before you now. It actually works out better with your delay. There’s no chance the paparazzi will link the two of you, even if they do get a tip-off.”

“Thanks, Louise. Where would I be without you?”