‘So when am I finally going to meet him?’ she asked Ivy one evening. Every time she’d suggested it before Jeremy always seemed to be busy, and gave Ivy one reason after another why he couldn’t come.

‘Oh, not that again.’ Ivy sighed and raised her eyebrows. She was getting ready to meet him. ‘You sound worse than me mother when you start.’

‘I don’t mean to,’ Holly defended herself. ‘But you’ve been seeing him for some time now. I just thought it might be nice if I got to know him.’

‘All right then, what if I invite him round to tea on Sunday?’

Holly grinned. ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll make us a cake.’

‘You make a cake?’ Ivy snorted with laughter. ‘Your cookin’ might have improved but I don’t reckon you’re up to that yet.’

‘Well, we’ll see shall we!’ Holly said peevishly. ‘A sponge can’t be all that hard to make. Come Sunday you’ll be eating your words and asking for an extra slice you’ll see!’

Ivy grinned as she gave her a wave and sped off down the stairs leaving Holly to start searching for the second-hand copy of Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book she had bought some time ago from the market.

Unknown to Ivy it took three attempts before Holly managed to produce a cake that was edible but on Sunday afternoon she laid out a little feast fit for a king. There were thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches, cheese and ham sandwiches, as well as a variety of pickles and some sausage rolls that Holly had bought from the butcher. And in the centre of the table the cake she had gone to such trouble over took pride of place.

‘How does it look?’ she asked Ivy as she came out of her bedroom shortly before Jeremy was due to arrive.

‘I have to say you’ve done a grand job,’ Ivy admitted, giving her friend a quick hug. ‘It’s really nice of you to go to so much trouble.’

‘It’s worth it if Jeremy is going to be a part of our lives. The least I can do is get to know him,’ Holly pointed out. They glanced at the clock together then.

‘Another half an hour and he should be here. I told him four o’clock.’ Ivy was actually quite excited about the visit and could hardly wait to show him off. Up to now he hadn’t introduced her to any of his friends but when she’d remarked on it he’d kissed her tenderly. ‘That’s because I don’t get to see anywhere near as much of you as I’d like and when I do I want you all to myself,’ he’d assured her. Perhaps that will change after he’s met Holly, Ivy thought as she straightened the cushions on the small sofa and they sat down to wait.

Four o’clock came and went. For the first half an hour Ivy wasn’t too worried. Jeremy had never been the best timekeeper. But by five o’clock she was pacing the floor and repeatedly crossing to the window to peer up and down the street.