“Nick, no! I’m not letting my best friend’s husband and the father of my goddaughters get swept down the creek. Libby will agree with me that the best thing to do is wait it out. Besides, the SES won’t let you through.”

“I guess.” But he didn’t look happy.

“Call her and I’ll make tea.” Jess walked to the kitchen, filled the kettle and switched it on. As she set out mugs and milk, she could hear Nick murmuring on the phone. She picked out the words, “at least an hour” and smiled.

By the time he walked into the kitchen, the tea was brewing and she was plating two slices of the cake her client had given her that morning when she’d dropped off some tax forms at the patisserie. She added some strawberries and a squirt of Chantilly cream.

Nick’s eyes lit up. “Is that Patrice’s chocolate indulgence cake?”

“The very same. But it’s our secret. If Libby finds out I gave you a slice, we’ll both get in trouble.” She pushed a mug of tea toward him. “It’s such a shocking night, I thought you might have already been called out by a hapless tourist.”

“I asked Dad to be on call tonight.”

“Oh, right. Valentine’s Day.” She licked some chocolate frosting off her finger. “I thought you and Libby didn’t bother with it.”

Nick looked over the top of his mug, his Tuscan eyes flinty. “You don’t know everything.”

Jess squashed a laugh. Was Nick really that clueless? How could he not know that women, let alone best friends, disclosed all sorts of intimate information to one another? She knew everything about his marriage. “I know the anniversary’s going to be a tough time for Libby.”

“Not just for Libby. My son died too, remember.”

This time she stared him down. “You know it’s not the same.”

He held her gaze for a few more seconds before forking cake into his mouth. Steering the conversation into calmer waters, they chatted about the weather, the new barista at the marina café whose skills took coffee into the next realm and Alice’s controversial article in the Gazette accusing the film festival committee of safe choices.

“What was she thinking? Didn’t she know Claudia’s Jake’s silent business partner?”

“She does now,” Nick said ruefully. “Jake told her a couple of days ago he doesn’t have any more shifts for her.”

“Typical Alice.” Jess muttered into her cake.

“I’m happy,” Nick said loyally. “It frees her up to work more for me.”

Jess no longer wanted to talk about the twins. “While I’ve got you here, I need to ask you a favor.” She laughed at Nick’s wary face. “Settle, petal. I’m on the toy library committee and we’re pulling together the annual raffle. I was wondering if Pirellis’ would donate the main prize?”