Harriet's Arrangement

Girlfriends

"How was day one, Hattie?" Eva asked, balancing a margarita in one hand and her handbag in the other as she slid into the booth beside Harriet and Lily, who had been chatting for half an hour. They were having their fortnightly catch-up drinks and gossip in their favourite bar, and Harriet's upcoming new job had been a topic of much excitement recently.

"Great!" Harriet said, happily, returning Eva's kiss on the cheek, "Met the team, got to know the office – hasn't quite sunk in that this one is permanent yet, but it's got a great vibe. Danny actually remembered to text this morning as well, which was impressive." She paused to take a sip of her cocktail, wondering whether or not to mention the strange encounter with the company director, but deciding against it. She'd let that one settle a bit perhaps...

"Honestly, Danny is not good for you, Hattie, you never know where you are with him. But that's not a discussion for now. It's so good you had such a great day!" Eva said happily, giving her friend a one-armed hug, and brushing over her grumble about Harriet's love life, "So proud of you for making the leap." Eva, Harriet and Lily had been friends since primary school, and although they had been scattered across the country throughout their secondary school and university years, by some twist of fate, they had all ended up in or near London in the past couple of years, and had been enormously enjoying the frequent contact that had previously been weekends crammed into each other's single bedrooms in halls or shared accommodation. Eva had moved with her husband, George, and their two small children from Cambridge to a town just outside London, and they were both working with law firms in the City; having secured a place at the Royal Academy of Music as a singer, Lily had moved in six months previously with her boyfriend of four years, Adam, who was an accountant also working in the City. George and Adam were now fast friends too, and Harriet's lack of partner had been known to make her feel something of a fifth wheel on occasion – but she got on well with both of the men as well, and most of the time it didn't bother her.

"What's new in Lily's world?" Eva asked, turning to face Lily across the table from her and Harriet.

Lily grinned and didn't say anything. Harriet and Eva exchanged looks, both thinking the same thing.

"Are you –?" Harriet began at the same time as Eva said, "Did he –?"

Lily squealed and held out her left hand, which she had been surreptitiously hiding behind drinks and bags since she'd arrived at the bar, to show her friends a glistening solitaire diamond on her fourth finger.

Harriet and Eva both immediately mirrored Lily's squeal, and Eva grabbed her hand, examining the beautiful engagement ring. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!" Harriet gasped, gripping Lily's other hand, "Congratulations!"

"Thank you!" Lily squeaked, squeezing back, "I was starting to think he'd never ask!"

"Ahh you knew he would," Eva smiled, releasing Lily's hand after a quick squeeze, "He was just nervous of doing it wrong."

"Oh but he did it so right," Lily said, sighing happily, "we were staying away this weekend, out in the countryside, and it was sunset, and there was no-one around, and it was just the most magical thing..."

Harriet grinned at her friend. "Good old Adam."

Eva smiled too. "So happy for you," she said.

"So Prosecco's on me," Lily said, "Shall I get a bottle?"

"After cocktails?!" Harriet said, at the same time as Eva said, "Hell, yes!"

Lily laughed. "Don't worry, I won't let you turn up with a hangover on your second day, Hattie," she said, sliding out of the booth, "Back in a second!"

As Lily slipped away, Harriet turned to Eva. "You ok?" she asked.

Eva nodded. "I'm fine," she said, "Thanks for asking. Things are just a little challenging with George at the moment. I feel like he never sees the kids and I'm trying to stay sane in my job and also be a good mum..."

"Oh Eva, I'm sorry," Harriet said, sympathetically. Eva and George were known to go through their ups and downs – they'd never actually broken up, but Harriet and Lily had seen her close to considering it on several occasions. It was never anything serious – just differences in lifestyle or priorities that caused them to clash in that moment –  but over the past eight years the two of them had pulled through many difficult times. "Must be hard to see Lily right back at that excited engagement stage, right?"

Eva smiled, wondering how Harriet had got there so quickly. "Yeah, but I honestly am so happy for her. I was just hoping to have a bit of a George-rant this evening," she said, shrugging, "You know, I had to get a babysitter last minute this evening because George called me at 4 to say he wouldn't be home."

Harriet grimaced and gave her friend's shoulder a squeeze. "That sucks, I'm really sorry. You can rant to me later, once we've given Lily her deserved celebration. I know you're happy for her, don't worry."

Eva smiled gratefully at Harriet. "Thanks, Hattie," she said, "Like you say, right now is all about Lily."

Lily returned to the table with a bottle of Prosecco and one glass.

Eva laughed. "You drinking all that yourself, Lils?"

Lily smiled, rummaging in her bag, and found two wrapped packages and handed them to Harriet and Eva. "Maybe!" she said, giggling, "Open them."

Harriet and Eva exchanged another look and both tore the paper away from the packages. Inside were two identical boxes, both containing champagne flutes. On top of each was a card with the words 'Will you be my...' and as Harriet moved the card out of the way and saw the word 'Bridesmaid' engraved on the glass, tears welled up in her eyes as she squealed. "Oh my God, yes, Lily, yes!"

Eva too looked like she was trying not to cry, a hand over her mouth and glistening, smiling eyes looking at Lily, who before she said anything, "Oh, and I'd love love love it if Florence and Phoebe could be flower girls, Eva," she said, referring to their friend's two daughters.

"Oh Lily! Of course you silly goose," she said, tearfully, squeezing her friend's hand across the table, "They will be so thrilled. And so am I."

Lily laughed delightedly. "Team Bride!" she said, plucking the glasses out of Harriet and Eva's hands and filling all three of them with Prosecco, "All over again!" Lily and Harriet had been bridesmaids for Eva four years previously, and the three of them had had the most wonderful time. 

Harriet squeezed Eva's hand under the table as they all raised their glasses. "To the soon-to-be Mr and Mrs Johnson!" she said, clinking glasses with Lily.

"To coming over to the dark side," Eva agreed, also clinking glasses.

"The dark side being married life?" Lily asked, giggling.

"And all the secrets therein," Eva laughed, and Harriet squeezed her friend's hand once more.