Hayley turned away from the bar and her gaze fell on Lily. Not sure whether to feel complimented or insulted at the way Hayley’s brows flew up as her gaze fell on the sequinned dress, Lily said hesitantly, ‘Hello again.’

‘Well, hello. Don’t you look glamorous!’ Hayley replied.

Lily no longer felt glamorous. She felt conspicuously shiny. ‘It’s the opening of the Ballarat in Bettsbrough tonight.’

‘And you got tickets? How clever of you.’ Hayley smiled a perfectly lipsticked smile.

Lily wasn’t sure if it was genuine or condescending but introduced Zinnia as the ticket procurer.

Flora bustled through the counter flap, took down four wine glasses and turned, skidding to a halt as she came face to face with Hayley, gazing at her with frank amazement. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’

Hayley smiled. ‘I should say the same to you. Are you working here? How nice—’

‘Sorry,’ said Flora, clicking back into motion. ‘Busy night. Lily, your table’s ready if you’d like to go over. I’ll bring the menus.’

‘Thanks.’ Lily picked up her coat, glad her conversation with Hayley had been interrupted. The older woman was so … well, just so. Groomed. Sophisticated. Polished. Assured. Lily didn’t feel any of those things.

But then Zinnia’s phone began to ring and she fished for it in her evening bag to read the screen. ‘It’s George.’

As she stayed where she was to take the call from her boyfriend, Lily picked up Zinnia’s coat too, intending to take both to the table when Zinnia let out a piercing squawk of dismay. ‘Oh, no! How? Are you OK? Oh, no, I can’t believe it.’

Lily halted, alarmed.

Without interrupting her conversation, Zinnia pulled her coat from Lily’s arms and began to wriggle into it. ‘Of course I’m coming home! I’ll be there as soon as I’ve picked up my car from Lily’s.’ Ending the call with her eyes full of tears, Zinnia fumbled the rest of the way into her coat. ‘That was George. We’ve had a kitchen fire! The fire brigade’s there and everything. It’s an absolute mess, apparently.’

‘That’s awful!’ Lily gasped. ‘Is George OK?’

‘Fine, but, oh, Lily, our lovely new kitchen! We haven’t even paid a year off the loan yet. I’ve got to go. I can’t go clubbing and leave him with it.’ She sloshed what was left of her wine into Lily’s glass.

‘Should I come? Can I help?’ But Lily was already talking to Zinnia’s back as she hurled herself through the crowd, waving distractedly behind her.