‘Sorry I wasn’t in touch earlier,’ Michael continued. ‘I really was laid low. Even getting up to the bathroom was a mammoth effort; the norovirus, I think it was called. It was still lingering when I got to London too, so I stayed away from people in case I passed it on.’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘I’ve been busy. Moving house …’

‘… And your shop?’

‘The landlord still hasn’t got a buyer for it, but I’ve given my notice for a few weeks’ time.’

‘Great. So let’s go somewhere fabulous. I was thinking about you a lot when I was ill. I thought I might take off after the wedding and see a bit of Europe before I head back to Thailand. You could come with me. France, Spain, Italy, be a lovely time to go. What do you say?’

I almost laughed. First Jon inviting me away, now Michael. ‘Sounds fabulous. Tell me … have you been sending me gifts?’

Michael feigned surprise. ‘Gifts? Why? What sort of gifts? Who? The cad. I didn’t realize I had competition. I challenge him to a duel at dawn.’

I laughed. ‘Seriously. Whoever it is has sent me a bunch of flowers and a Chinese box full of Liquorice Allsorts and …’

Michael smiled. ‘Liquorice Allsorts. Did he now? They were always your favourite. You always made me laugh; so particular with eating a healthy diet, then it all went out the window when the Liquorice Allsorts were around.’

‘You’re evading the question. Did you send those things?’

‘No card with them? No indication at all where they came from?’

I shook my head.

‘You must have some idea who sent them.’

‘I have my suspicions but I’m not entirely sure.’

‘Well, I reckon if he didn’t send a card, it’s part of some master plan. Wait and see what he sends next.’

‘Or you could tell me if it was you. Coincidentally, they started arriving around the time you got back to England and got in touch.’

Michael raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘Really?’

‘So was it you? Tell me.’

‘And spoil all the fun? I wouldn’t do that.’

‘You’re infuriating.’

‘Thank you. I try to be.’

‘OK. Next question. Remember we talked about past lives last time we met?’

‘I do.’

‘Have you ever had a sense of déjà vu about a place or person?’

‘All the time. I don’t know if it means anything, though. Some people you recognize, some places feel familiar, so what? The only time that’s real is the here and now. I try and live in that.’

‘Very deep.’

‘Do you think? That’s me, deep.’

We reached the traffic lights at Kentish Town, crossed over, then Michael turned left into the street where I had been with Marcia to look for Billy Jackson’s old house. ‘Michael, where is this wedding?’