‘Why thank you, Zara, you’re most kind. Right, I’ll see how Mary’s getting on,’ Robbie said, leaving the kitchen.

Fran threw Zara a look.

‘What? I just told him he looks nice!’

‘I know what you’re like, but even you have to draw the line. He’s about forty.’

‘He’s not, he’s thirty-three, and he’s a lot more handsome than any of the other men around here. That dimple … The floppy hair … Those dreamy eyes … And his lashes!’ Zara did a faux swoon. ‘He looks like Rob Lowe, don’t you think?’

‘Not one bit,’ Fran said, though now that she thought about it, maybe he did. Zara had been obsessed with Rob Lowe ever since they’d watched The Outsiders. If only that girl spent as much time on her books as she does mooning over film stars, Fran’s mother Della used to say. She was worried about their upcoming summer in America, afraid Zara would be a bad influence. Here’s hoping, was Fran’s response to that, though only in her head.

They walked back into the living room and flopped simultaneously on the couch, just as the doorbell rang.

‘Should we answer it? While they’re getting ready?’ Zara asked.

Fran shook her head as they heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs, then the front door being opened, and a voice that was familiar though indistinct.

‘Is that Gavin?’ Zara mouthed. ‘Why would he be here?’

Fran had no idea. Gavin Bowman was ‘born trouble’ according to Della, and for once, Fran had to agree with her mother. Her twin brothers were obsessed with Gavin, of course. Looked up to him like he was some kind of idol. And the girls in their group – Ellen and Aoife – seemed to hang off Gavin’s every word. She scooted sideways along the couch, listening. Sporadic snippets filtered through. ‘Office’ and ‘lesson’ and ‘cash’. And then, inexplicably, ‘lawn mower’. That was unexpected. Gavin spent most of his time hanging around the green, smoking – he wasn’t the odd-job type.

The sound of the front door closing sent Fran scurrying back to the middle of the sofa and Zara into a fit of silent laughter. Now they could hear Mary coming down the stairs.

‘Who was that?’ she asked, her voice carrying through to the living room.

‘Gavin Bowman. Remember his parents asked if he could do work experience in my office?’

Fran and Zara exchanged looks. Neither of them could imagine Gavin working in an office. They stayed stock still on the couch, listening through the closed door.

‘Oh, that’s right. Will he start soon?’

Robbie laughed. ‘Yeah, but not in the office.’

‘Oh?’

Another laugh. ‘I told him I promised his dad work experience but didn’t specify what kind of work. So you, my dear, have a new gardener.’

‘I don’t understand?’

‘Ah, look, I’ll bring him into the office for a week at some stage and throw a bit of cash his way. But for now, he’s going to cut the lawn here once a week, do a bit of tidying up. You should have seen his face.’