He produced a wafer-thin laptop from his rucksack to take notes.

‘They would like dinner for about twelve people here on the Friday night. Martin’s family don’t get on, so they won’t be coming,’ explained Jo.

‘But they are coming to the wedding?’ asked Sophie.

Jo nodded.

‘Happy families,’ Sophie grinned. ‘Don’t you love them?’

Jo tried not to wince as Sophie turned to Jean-Christophe. ‘Nicky’s requested something simple for the Friday night. She doesn’t want a lot of fuss. Could you come up with some menus? Oh, there’s the wine tasting as well, we mustn’t forget that! Liam will be organizing it and they’ll choose which wines they want for the day.’ She tried not to catch her mother’s eye. ‘Liam will provide them at the right temperature. Can you liaise with him about how to keep it cool?’

‘Of course,’ he agreed.

‘And for the wedding day itself, we will order croissants and pastries from the boulangerie for the family breakfast. Why don’t you get out your list now, Sophie, and talk us through it?’

‘Delighted,’ beamed Sophie. ‘The moment I’ve been waiting for!’ She produced a printout from her folder. ‘The exchange of vows is at one o’clock, followed by the photographs, but they want their guests to have a drink while they wait. The official reception is at two and they’ll need canapés as well, so can you suggest a variety of those? The actual meal follows at three thirty.’

‘Is the celebrant booked?’ Meredith enquired, softening the request with a smile that acknowledged her previous bad temper.

‘Of course,’ replied Sophie smoothly.

‘What kind of tables have they chosen?’ Jean-Christophe enquired. ‘Just so I can tell my servers.’

‘Round,’ replied Sophie with a smile. ‘The favourite choice when there’s been a difficult divorce. No top table.’

‘Except that, speaking as an ex-wife,’ Jo pointed out before she could stop herself, ‘the ex-wife always knows which is really the top table. And that she’s not on it.’

‘What have you got in mind for the wedding meal?’ Sophie dived in quickly. ‘Nicky keeps saying she wants it to feel like a festival. I don’t think she wants to go for the conventional safe chicken option.’

‘Let’s go for the spiced lamb with warm salads of rice, aubergine, red pepper and pomegranate seeds. It could even be roasted whole on a spit, if you want it to feel like a real festival.’

‘I’ll check with Nicky.’

Jo had stopped listening and was watching Meredith, who sat, still uncharacteristically quiet. Jo recognized the look on her face: it was the same look she’d had herself when she’d learned about Mark and Amanda.

‘Jean-Christophe,’ Jo said suddenly. ‘Are you all right? I mean, this sudden reappearance of your mother. Does it make you happy?’