‘Wow.’ Lily gazed around the elegant little apartment decorated in blues and yellows. For an instant she let herself think about how it would have been to share it with Isaac alone, the squashy blue sofas and the big double bed, then she gave Max a big smile. ‘It’s fabulous.’

Max said he’d see them later and departed.

Before they went to their rooms to unpack Isaac asked, ‘Do either of you mind if Doggo’s bed goes in the lounge? I don’t want him to start thinking he’s got the entrée to my bedroom all the time. It was unavoidable in the hotel but it’s an inconvenient habit to foster.’

Lily avoided his gaze. ‘Fine with me.’ Doggo sharing Isaac’s hotel room had definitely been inconvenient. Entering the room she was to share with Franciszka she was acutely aware of Isaac so close, picturing him hanging up his clothes, maybe flopping down to try the bed for size. Maybe thinking of her …

Then she heard him call, ‘Taking Doggo out for a run!’ and the sound of the door closing behind him so she decided to lie on her bed for a few minutes so she could take her arm out of its sling.

‘Lily! Lily!’

‘Wha’?’ Lily awoke to find a grinning Franciszka shaking her gently.

‘It is past seven o’clock and we are invited to the meal at seven thirty.’ Franciszka was already dressed in a green sweater shift dress that skimmed her slightly apple-shaped figure.

It took Lily several moments to focus on the clock. ‘Urgh, I’ve been asleep for over two hours,’ she groaned, rolling onto her side and staggering to her feet. She forced herself awake to grab her robe and sponge bag and make for the bathroom which, luckily, was empty. A quick, refreshing shower and she wriggled – careful of her hand – into a black, grey and red jersey dress that swirled around her as she walked. Back in their room, Franciszka kindly put up her hair for her, then did her mascara as Lily discovered it to be impossible with the ‘wrong’ hand. They finished just as they heard the sound of a knock at the door and Max’s voice greeting Isaac.

‘We’re ready!’ Lily said breathlessly, grabbing her coat and bag. She’d decided to leave off her sling. The hand wasn’t quite so swollen and it was nice to have her arm in a more natural position.

Max smiled a smile made more boyish by his freckles, his sandy hair smartly cut and combed. ‘You two ladies look lovely. The others are already in the house. I walked them up here to save Isaac clearing the minibus and fetching them.’