So Daniel walked through the doors of the church which was a very modest building, unlike Trinity or St Patrick's Cathedral and took a seat on the front pew.

"My son, have you come to pray?" The priest asked him.

"No, sir, I have not. I'm getting married."

"You have a license?"

"Sure." Daniel pulled out the slip of paper.

Meanwhile Lily stood in the middle of Bergdorf Goodman, looking around at all of the wonderful items on display. In just half an hour she would be somebody's wife, and not just anybody. She would be Lily Hannigan, a kept woman with a husband and child. She looked into the glass cases longingly. Part of her wanted to remain free, to be the happy go lucky twenty something with very little to care about, just like all of those Bright Young Things who had fled to America to escape convention.

"Anything I can help you with, ma'am?" asked a shop assistant and Lily shook her head.

"No, thank you."

"If you don't mind me saying so ma'am, you don't look happy?"

Lily shook her head again, determined to blot out her worries.

"I'm fine, thank you. I guess…oh darn…why does everything have to be so damn difficult?"

The shop assistant leaned over the counter.

"You need to talk? There's a dressing room upstairs on the second floor."

"Thanks." She hastily patted her face with a powder puff and hurried upstairs as the assistant had directed. She walked into the dressing room, caught a sight of her reflection holding up the wedding dress and burst into tears.

The shop assistant from downstairs came running and sat her down.

"Okay, so what's the problem, Miss?"

Lily looked up from her lap.

"I can't…I can't do it." She sobbed through her fingers, "I can't go in there…"

"To do what?"

"To get married. I don't know anything about being a wife. I can't just…oh gee…I'm a stupid, stupid girl."

The shop assistant was confused. He often had women crying in the shop, but that was because they were happy. Happy for what? Materialism? Since the Crash of '27 there had been hardly any customers, but in the 20s heyday the shop was filled with eager women cashing whatever they could on the latest fashions and styles. Judging by her clothes, this woman wasn't that well off.

"You're not stupid." He reassured her kindly, "it's natural to feel nervous."

"Really?" Lily murmured.

"Of course, it's a big thing, ya know. Why don't you want to get married, though huh? There must be somethin' stopping you?" He paused, "do you not love this guy who wants to marry you?"

"Of course I do! I love him more than anything, but…I guess…aw gee…you have eyes like his, but softer." Lily gazed into them, "soft eyes you can trust. Who's to say he won't run off and ditch me like some of the other hacks?"

"You have to trust him." He spoke slowly and gently with the ease of a velvet scarf being swept over a mannequin, and his teeth were pearly, glinting under the store lights.

"I don't know if I do." Lily admitted casually, feeling a tugging inside.

"Ma'am, I hope you don't mind me saying this…but if you don't trust him, isn't it better to…"

Lily leaned over, kissing him swiftly before pulling back abruptly.

"I shouldn't…"

"I should go, Ma'am." The shop assistant told her briskly before heading back downstairs, leaving Lily standing, not knowing what to do next. It was all a mass of confusion and emotion. If she really loved Daniel, why had she kissed another man? Why had she done that?

"Wedding day nerves." She reminded herself, stepping into the cubicle and changing into her pretty floral print floor length dress that from this day would be classed as her wedding dress. It was a pinched shoulder affair with sweet capped sleeves leading down to a drop waist which trailed the fine and delicate print all the way to the floor. It was neither fussy nor ridiculous, but it was fashionable. The gentle detailing of the ruffled collar was just enough to add an element of occasion to the dress and Lily heaved a sigh as she walked to the mirror, keeping her eyes closed. When she opened them a tall willowy figure stared back at her. The sweet pattern matched the bouquet she would carry precisely and her fair curls danced about her face, lifting the colour of the dress into a warm buttermilk. Smiling bravely she applied an oval of coral red lipstick and flicked her eyelashes, willing them to stay in place. If she was going to do this, she wanted to look at her best. She tucked a set of plain beads over her head and stood in a pose. Yes. She was ready.

"Ma'am, I just have to say, you look swell." A girl shop assistant had appeared from behind the counter and she stood behind Lily, her hands clasped.

"Thank you." Lily replied softly, picking up her cream bag and the dress carrier and depositing them on the counter.

"I'd like these to be delivered to my address." She instructed, scribbling the details on a slip of paper.

"Yes, of course, Ma'am." The shop assistant looked stunned but did not question it.

"Thank you."

With that she hurried out of Bergdorf's and hailed a cab. There was one more place she needed to see before she became Mrs Hannigan.

"47th and 8th, please."

"Sure."

The cab driver drove off toward downtown, and Lily smiled as she passed by the many places she and Daniel had thieved. It was like being in a different city, where opportunists roamed the streets, but now she had responsibilities. Little Danny would learn at a proper school, where he would flourish and he would get a real job. Daniel would too. They couldn't stay with Aggie, not now they had Danny.

She hardly saw the familiar buildings as she pondered her thoughts, and suddenly the car stopped.

"Here we are, Ma'am. That'll be 7 dollars, 28 cents."

Lily paid him and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Lorenzo's Booksellers, the sign read in feeble lettering. Ignoring the smut covered windows she pressed the door open, hearing the familiar tingle of the bell and walking into the quiet old store.

"You here for the show, Ma'am?" One man asked from behind a tall desk. Lily shook her head.

"Is Lorenzo still here?"

"Sure he is," the man replied in a Bronx accent, "here." He handed Lily a book with a tag and she walked to the serving hatch which concealed the entrance to the speakeasy behind.

"Taking out Winner Take Nothing, Hemingway."

The serving hatch door slid open and a fat Italian man poked his head through the window.

"Lily St Regis, why ain't you a sight for sore eyes! Come in, doll."

He pulled a lever and the wall opened, allowing Lily to descend the staircase behind which led into Lorenzo's bar, where a group of girls in short gold playsuits were dancing on the stage.

"My new giovane gruppo." Lorenzo explained, gesturing at them, "so what brings you back here, doll? That crap shooter you took up with turned out to be a…"

"No, nothing like that." Lily walked across the varnished floorboards to the bar, running her fingers along the mahogany counter top.

"It's so good to be back here, I guess I have you to thank."

"You don't have to make gratitude to me, kid. You got yourself a great gig here."

"Now I have a husband and child." Lily explained proudly.

"A kid? Aww, well I'm glad it worked out for you. Is it that schmuck who fleeced me out of $100 bucks?"

"That's him." Lily giggled, patting the seat where she'd first watched Daniel swipe a wallet.

"He was so exciting, dangerous, wild!" She bustled on eagerly, "I needed to see you again, Mr Lorenzo, I just wanted to say, thanks, you know."

"Aww, doll-face, you're too kind. I didn't help you. You did all the hard work. You kept this place in fine order, I just wish my boy did the same."

"Oh yes, of course, how is Mario?"

"I'd like to tell ya, doll, but I ain't heard from him, not since he took off with some kid from the Argentine. I says to him don't get involved in all that political crap and guess what, he takes off with her and I don't see him since. Shame really, she was a nice kid. Loretta."

"I'll keep a look out for him, Mr Lorenzo. I'm sure he'll be home real soon."

"Yea, kid, keep on dreaming." Lorenzo patted her shoulder. "Don't tell me you just come down here to see us, in that dress."

"Well, yes. You helped me, Mr Lorenzo, I want you to take this." She handed him a fifty dollar bill. "I know it's not much, but it's what you told me you started with. I want to return the favour."

Lorenzo laughed in his big booming way and shook his head.

"You're too kind, kid. Now get yourself out of here and go home to that husband of yours."

"Yes, yes, I will." Lily headed for the door, "just one more thing?"

"Yes?"

"If you kiss someone who's not your fiancée on your wedding day, does that mean you don't love the other person?"

"You'll know the answer to that when you close your eyes. If its this guy's face you see, you're meant to be. At least, that's what Rosa says."

Rosa was Lorenzo's wife who he'd brought with him from Italy and she and Lily had been friends since they had first started working together.

"Okay." She closed her eyes and immediately Daniel's face appeared, strolling along arm-in-arm whilst she pushed a pram.

"I know the answer." She told Lorenzo, waving to him as she climbed into a cab and drove away, back to Manhattan, past Bergdorfs and The Plaza Hotel, looking as grand as ever with all its fashionable guests climbing into luxury sedans flocked by crowds of staff.

Then she was back in Hudson Street, where Aggie and Rebecca were sitting in the office.