‘I’m sure he couldn’t have done. There wasn’t much to find out, was there?’

‘No, but I could have made the most God-awful fool of myself.’ Molly shook her head slightly. ‘I won’t interfere, I promise.’

Thea didn’t ask how, if Molly wasn’t going to interfere, it was going to keep her out of mischief, because Molly not interfering was like anyone else doing without oxygen, just not possible. But she still didn’t know what to say, or what to think. In some ways it was the answer to her problems. She could move into the gallery immediately and start getting it ready. But Molly? Not an ideal business partner for someone, let alone for anyone who was so bad at saying no.

‘Let me have a few moments to think about it, Molly.’

‘You could have longer than that. You don’t have to tell me in a hurry.’

‘Yes, I do, if I’m going to get this gallery open. Just give me a couple of sees. I’ll go and put the kettle on.’

By the time the kettle had boiled, Thea had had a short conversation with Toby about how to cook pancakes without getting them thick as planks and had made coffee, she had made up her mind.

She brought a tray back into the sitting room and, having moved a pile of NMEs, found space for it on a small table. ‘I accept your very kind offer, Molly. It’s really sweet of you and I’m very grateful.’

‘But? I know there’s a but, so you might as well tell me what it is.’

‘I am going to be firm with you. I’m going to practise being businesslike. After all, it was because I was too naïve and trusting that I’ – Thea paused – ‘that I decided that photojournalism wasn’t for me. This time I’m going to tell it like it is and say no if I think you’re wrong.’

‘Well, of course.’ Molly was pink. ‘I never thought you’d accept. I thought I was just too domineering for you. Derek says I should go on a de-assertiveness course.’

Thea handed her friend a cup of coffee, getting a sudden insight into her marriage; Derek probably let Molly do more or less what she wanted, but it was him to whom she turned when she needed help.

‘I was thinking of going on a course in “how to say no”, but I don’t think we’re either of us going to have time.’

‘You mean you’ll let me help?’