She quickly unlocked, snatched the orange photo album from the shelf and flipped though, looking for the photo. After a few minutes she gave up, shoved the book into a string shopping bag and left for work.

The kitchen was in chaos. Sally had dropped off all the stuff on the shopping list last night, but no one had put it away, then the vegetable man had stacked boxes of fruit and veg on top of the supermarket bags. This meant that when Cyril arrived with the meat delivery, there was simply nowhere for him to rest his box.

Carol and William arrived in time to help move things about.

Cyril grumpily shoved past them, and tried to get the fridge door open using his elbow. Plump and rosy-cheeked, Cyril had blond hair, which was thinning out, leaving a balding circle. Theresa noted that it was getting worse by the week.

‘Just stop, Cyril!’ Theresa shouted. She could see that his efforts were annoying everyone else. ‘Don’t be so stupid. Wait by the door and I will tell you when to come in.’

In a sulk now, Cyril gave a shrug and walked to the back door, where he stood, barely disguising his irritation.

Carol stacked boxes to one side while William traipsed up and down the stairs to the cellar with the dry goods and tins.

Then, amid this confusion, Marcel wandered in through the back door, pushing past Cyril, saying that he needed to speak to them all.

‘Oh, please, Marcel,’ cried Theresa. ‘One minute. It’s like Piccadilly Circus in here. Just go through, darling.’ Marcel clambered through the mess of boxes, bags and packaging strewn on the kitchen floor and sat down in the dining room.

Theresa then called Cyril inside.

‘Thank you so much, my dear Cyril.’ She took his box and dismissed him quickly. ‘As you can see, today, I’m afraid, I have no time to chat.’

She kissed him on both cheeks, in the usual French manner, and waved him goodbye.

Tying her apron on, Theresa shoved the photo album under her arm and came through to the dining room. The others were gathered round the tables, waiting to hear what Marcel had to say.

Sally lingered near the front door with Benjamin.

Theresa could see that they all looked very tired. Although it was morning, she herself was exhausted.

What would they all look like if it went on for months?

‘My friends,’ Marcel addressed them in French. ‘I know you are all suffering. I am aware, thanks to Theresa, of the status of events, all out of our control, which have come to pass. I too have had my own problems. And I am here to suggest a solution, which I hope will suit us all. I realise you will need time to digest my offer, but I make it in good faith.’

Theresa could see that Marcel had caught William’s and Carol’s attention, even if Sally and Benjamin were still huddled together giggling about something else.