‘Here.’ I rummage around in my bag and find a business card. I’m so glad I made some for the fair. And that I had most of them left over. ‘This is my business card. I don’t know what you sell in your shop, but if you’re ever after a card supplier, let me know. I promise I’m not normally so … talkative.’

She nods and takes the card. ‘I’ll bear all of that in mind.’ She magics up one of her own with far less fanfare than I needed and passes it to me. ‘Here are my details.’ She motions behind her. ‘Now I’m going to go collect my husband and see if I can encourage him to take me to dinner. It was nice to meet you, Bea.’

‘You too.’ I smile and do a mini wave as she retreats.

From the looks of things he doesn’t need much encouraging.

Now that Michelle has escaped, both me and the reunion, I get my phone out so nobody else talks to me, and message my mum about Harriet. She also disliked her intensely, solely based on my reviews, and I know she will relish the fact that Harriet is still wearing matching layered outfits.

CHAPTER 31

Whilst I’m still in wedding mode (and not fancying Peter mode) and currently in the midst of a neon-driven online shop (essential prep for Tilly’s eighties-themed hen party), Joan’s face pops up in front of my desk. Unfortunately I was too distracted to notice her until it was too late to run away.

‘Hey, how are you?’

She sounds far too chirpy and nice. She must want something. I double-check my glass, just in case it’s accidentally her mug.

‘I’m good thanks, you?’ Sometimes I hate pleasantries, but sometimes pleasantries are all you have.

‘Yes, very well, despite the awful weather.’ Ah, weather talk, aka the bridge between pleasantries and requests. ‘I wanted to say thank you for the help you’re giving Emily and the others. I don’t know quite what you’ve been telling them in those little sessions of yours, but their work is going through a lot more smoothly. Less confusion and reworking.’

This is interesting. This almost sounds like an apology. I like it. Although I do not appreciate the term ‘little sessions’. These ‘little sessions’ have been going on for months, and are now accompanied by a helpful digital guide I created.

‘We are so alike, you and I.’ I stop myself from scoffing in the nick of time. I most certainly hope not. ‘We just want to make sure we get the very best results.’ She takes a long inhale and I wait, not in the slightest bit eagerly, to hear what she’s going to ask for. ‘So anyway –’ finally we get to the request – ‘I was wondering if I could suggest a couple of topics for you to cover. I’m having issues getting through to Emily on some development points, and, well, you seem to be able to talk her language, and so I was hoping you would be able to speak to her about them?’