‘I’m making Gigi’s birthday present,’ he says, smoothing the wood with his hand. ‘It’s a surprise.’

‘My lips are sealed.’ I’m not sure what it’s meant to be. One thing I know, it’s definitely not a light box. ‘What woman wouldn’t want a rustic shelf for her birthday?’ I say cheerfully.

He ignores my facetiousness. ‘It’s a chopping board. I’ve carved her name and date of birth on it.’

He hands the board to me. It’s extremely heavy. But even as a total non-connoisseur of woodworking, I can see that the intricate carving has taken him a lot of time and work. I trace Gigi’s name and date of birth with my finger. ‘Wow. It’s beautiful.’

‘I’m going to put flowers along here,’ David says, showing me where he’s pencilled in the design. I can feel his warm breath against my cheek.

The wood is streaked and swirled with contrasting shades of rich brown. ‘Gigi’ll love it,’ I say admiringly, trying not to sound envious.

He looks pleased. ‘It’s maple.’

‘I like these markings on it.’

‘Those are burs. Burwood, it’s called. Don’t they look like birds’ eyes?’

‘Yes! Burwood,’ I repeat, so that I’ll remember it.

‘The burs make it brittle and harder to work with, but it’s worth it.’

He says it with so much warmth that I smile, because everyone loves a lover and I can see that the effort of working with this brittle wood is his measure of his love.

‘Does a lot of chopping, does she, Gigi?’ I ask him curiously.

‘She will when she’s got a chopping board,’ he says. He holds it at an angle to the light and turns it over, blowing off the dust. Then he picks up a chisel. Lucky Gigi.

I’ve been thinking about her birthday present, too. I’m going to give her the velvet opera cloak with the pink silk lining, because it’s a striking garment, one that’ll make people ask her where she got it (and she can then tell them it was sourced by me).

From Dinah, I’m learning a bit about hustling; I’ve seen the way her face will light up sometimes when a passer-by picks up a dress, even though they’re just looking at it in passing really, and it turns out that, surprise! the dress is Dinah’s absolute all-time favourite, and what good taste the passer-by has! Her approval is as sweet and warm as sunshine, and her enthusiasm and friendliness is contagious.

Unlike me, with my paranoia about putting people off, Dinah talks to everyone, even if it’s just a good morning or good afternoon as they walk by. And they respond.