Jacqueline was fidgeting with something in a glittery bag: presumably the prize for the Step Challenge. Had it really been six weeks since they’d started? At least we won’t have to spend our lunch breaks marching around the park, Tara thought, but was struck at once by another thought: she was going to miss walking around the park at lunchtime with David.

It wasn’t that they’d used the time to find common professional ground, as Jacqueline had intended. It was the small talk that had slowly turned them from colleagues into friends: their pretend reality-show commentary about the people with dogs and the imagined secret lives of joggers they only saw once a week. Their friendship had built with every lap of the bandstand. Even David’s Fascinating Facts about the area, thrown out at random for her to bat away with a roll of the eyes, were a running joke. She’d started to wonder if he researched them especially for her.

Will he miss it too? Tara wondered.

‘… although of course I can’t help with all types of wrist pain,’ Douglas concluded, as if leaving a pause for laughter – which was not forthcoming. Instead there was a momentary pause, in which thirteen lots of attention shifted abruptly from the buffet, the open window, Jacqueline’s bag, having registered that the talk was over.

Jacqueline clapped heartily to prompt the others. ‘Thank you so much for that useful advice, Douglas. And now,’ she said, steaming past the usual questions, much to everyone’s relief, ‘the moment you’ve all been waiting for. I have been astounded by the efforts we’ve made as a team in the name of fitness and health. Between us, we’ve covered over a million steps – yes, one million! – and I feel we’ve benefited from the fresh air and exercise. And, I hope you’ve had as interesting conversations as I’ve had!’ She glanced over at Kemi, who’d been her walking partner. ‘Thank you, Kemi!’

Kemi smiled without showing her teeth. Tara suspected Kemi now knew far more than she’d ever wanted to about container gardening.

‘So. In the spirit of the Olympics, I’ve decided to award bronze, silver and gold medals to our most active team members. Without further ado, in bronze medal place … Chloe and Hero!’

Chloe and Hero wove through the chairs towards Jacqueline to collect their prize. David leaned towards Tara’s ear and muttered, ‘A million steps? Really?’

His warm breath tickled her neck. She leaned sideways and muttered back, ‘Well, if everyone else fiddled their steps by a couple of hundred per week …’

‘Are you accusing me of cheating?’ he whispered in faux-outraged tones.

‘No, of course …’ She turned her head and found David had leaned in closer than she thought. The closeness of him, and the conspiratorial glint in his eyes, made her jump and she almost missed Jacqueline saying, ‘… David and Tara!’

‘What?’