At that moment, my neighbour Jon came into the café and spotted us in the corner. He came straight over. ‘I thought that was you,’ he said, which caused Heather and me to burst into laughter. ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked.

‘We were just talking about recognizing people and you came over, that’s all,’ said Heather.

‘Ah. Synchronicity,’ said Jon, and gave me a meaningful look.

‘Thank you for your note, Jon, and the car,’ I said.

‘You’re welcome. It’s my New Year’s resolution, not to annoy Bea so much,’ he said.

‘I doubt that’s going to happen.’

Jon grinned. ‘Anyway, just popped in for a take-out latte. Happy New Year to you both. Do you have plans for the thirty-first, Bea?’

‘I … Oh yes, there’s a thing at—’ I started.

‘Jacob’s, yes, I’m going too. Should be good, he always throws a fabulous party,’ said Heather. ‘Anyway, Happy New Year to you too, Jon.’

He got that he was being dismissed and didn’t hang about.

‘That man fancies you,’ said Heather when he’d gone.

‘That man fancies half of London, the female half, so you can drop it right now. And who’s Jacob? Is he having a party?’

‘No. You were stumbling and you’ve told me what a pain Jon was. I made Jacob up to get rid of him.’

‘Get you with the fast thinking. I knew there was a reason I hired you to be a manager.’ Heather had a great talent for getting out of awkward situations, something I’d witnessed with awe over the many years I’d known her.

‘Though you do know that if this were fiction or a movie, Jon would be The One. It’s always the one the heroine dislikes the most.’

‘Yeah, then she realizes that he’s really a prince or Mr Darcy, like that’s ever going to happen with Jon,’ I said as I watched him buy his latte – no, two lattes – then go out to greet a blonde lady with a dog who was waiting outside.

‘He is attractive though, come on, you have to admit it: twinkly eyes, good head of hair. I would have thought he was your type.’

‘Zip it, Heather, believe me, that’s never going to happen. Now, where were we?’

‘Oh, usual stuff. Past lives, reincarnation and imaginary friends.’

I laughed. It was good to spend time with Heather and get a more realistic perspective on how ridiculous it all was.