‘Yes. I can’t remember his name, but if I’d ever done something you didn’t like, you’d say your friend was bigger than me and would get me.’

‘I have no recollection at all,’ I said.

‘Why would you? You were about Phoebe’s age.’

‘And often children grow out of these imaginary friends and don’t remember them at all,’ said Juliet. ‘No doubt Phoebe will in time, especially if Tim and Marie have another child.’

‘That’s right. I don’t think you mentioned your friend after a certain age, maybe after Mark came along,’ Matthew continued, ‘but … I remember! You used to say that you were going to marry him. I remember that. You were forever making wedding plans and collecting old bits of material and making them into dresses.’

‘You’re making this up.’

‘I’m not. Ask Mum and Dad, I bet they’ll remember. Oh, and by the way, Michael O’Connor got in touch with me on Facebook. He asked for your address and mobile number. I hope you didn’t mind me passing on your details. I seem to remember you being broken-hearted over him at some point.’

‘It’s fine, it was a long time ago. I got over it.’

‘Who was he?’ asked Juliet.

‘Friend of Matthew’s,’ I said. ‘They played in a band together.’

‘The Glow Sticks. We were terrible, least I was,’ said Matthew. ‘I think Michael still plays though. We keep in touch on Facebook and he often posts photos of him, guitar in hand.’

‘Beer in the other?’ I added. ‘Last I heard he was running a beach bar in Thailand.’

‘Think he still is, though I think he runs more than the bar out there now,’ said Matthew. ‘He’s become quite the entrepreneur. It looks like a nice location from the photos he posts. I think he’s heading your way for a family wedding or some event.’

‘Oh, I remember him. He broke your heart?’ asked Juliet.

‘He was commitment-phobic, never one to be tied down. I thought he was the great love of my life, the One. He thought I was the one, too, but sadly the one of many.’

‘Ah.’

‘But we were young. He might have changed.’

‘Hey, maybe the old spark will be there,’ said Juliet.

‘Doubt it, and don’t you two start as well. It’s bad enough with Pete and Marcia forever trying to pair me off. I’ve grown up since Michael; he wouldn’t be my type any more.’

‘So what type is that?’ asked Juliet.

‘Someone who has a job and a house, for starters. His resistance to commitment applied to material things as well as women.’

‘He has his own house now,’ said Matthew.

‘Stop it, not interested.’

They laughed. ‘If it’s meant to be, it will be,’ said Juliet.

‘You always were hopelessly romantic, Juliet.’

‘Come and see us soon, Bea,’ said Juliet. ‘We miss you.’