During the week that followed she tried hard to drum up business for her supposed day job as a designer, making new connections on LinkedIn and joining groups with show or expo in the title, sending personal approaches to companies found in directories of shows on at Olympia, ExCeL, the East of England Showground and anywhere else that might bear fruit. Phoning follow-ups when she could. ‘It’s a dead time, less than two weeks before Christmas,’ a guy in a Huntingdon beauty and hairdressing wholesalers said. ‘Everyone’s focused on finishing things up before Christmas holidays or end-of-year deadlines.’ Another said she didn’t even know their show budget for next year. ‘Then they’ll say, “How are things looking for the Motor & Tech Show?” and expect answers!’

Lily commiserated, sent a ‘Great to talk to you today – get in touch if you think we can work together’ email and flopped back in her chair. If things didn’t brighten up she’d be reduced to networking breakfasts. Or …

In the New Year she could look for a job when the un/happiness of Christmas was behind everyone.

She went out with Zinnia one evening. Roma was away on a photographic assignment. Lily decided not to try and see Patsie in case she thought Lily was checking up on her while Roma was away … which Lily could easily feel the need to do if she let herself.

On Wednesday evening Carola got all the Middletones together for a reunion Christmas drink at The Three Fishes. Lily went along, her smiles at the ready, knowing it was pointless to suggest another venue. It was the village pub and they were a village singing group!

It was really great to see the others anyway, exchanging hugs and jokes. Emily blushed when Warwick arrived but later Lily saw him sitting next to her and talking, making the young teen first smile and then laugh, so she felt Warwick must have apologised for being clumsy when Emily kissed him.

Eddie had brought his guitar so they sang, and none of the non-Middletone customers seemed to mind. A few joined in with the stuff everyone knew like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Let it Snow’.

Isaac watched from behind the bar but didn’t sit with them or join in this time, not even when there was no one waiting to be served. Probably best, Lily thought, especially when Hayley appeared, a floral bag over her shoulder.

Lily’s heart jumped.

Hayley looked pale and wobbly, drawn and thin and, without make-up, nobody could mistake the age difference between her and Isaac. ‘I heard the music,’ Lily was able to catch her saying, then watched from the corner of her eye as Isaac brought a tonic water to where she seated herself in a tub chair in the corner.