Faith squeezes my hands. ‘Darling, Harry has left. He said the girls had texted to say they’d broken their key in his front door and he had to go.’ Faith swallows hard. ‘He didn’t say he was coming back.’

‘Do you think he saw Jordan kiss me?’

‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know – I didn’t see that.’

‘It wasn’t anything to see, believe me,’ I say.

‘I have no clue what’s going on with any of you any more.’ Faith shakes her head. ‘Lucy’s been snogging Sonya. Carlos is telling Poppy you told him to ditch the Tom Ford suit for that ghastly silver pimp number.’

‘Faith, I think I might have.’

Faith jolts a little and then carries on. ‘Your mother and Joanna can’t stop nattering. Timothy is thoroughly charming them both and Zelda is quite pickled and reading the waiter’s palms.’

‘It all sounds very entertaining,’ I say.

‘I’m pleased Toby is here. Gracie, I think I’m falling in love, too. Can you believe it?’ Faith is radiant.

‘Yes, darling, I believe it.’

‘Why don’t you join us? You can take Harry’s seat.’

On reminder of Harry’s departure, I squeeze my eyes closed.

When I open them, Faith is looking at me with her lips pursed.

‘Of course, there is another option,’ she says.

‘Go and find Harry?’

‘And tell him how you feel. Properly, this time. For real.’

‘What about him being our agent?’

‘I was wrong about that. Plenty of people meet through work. Look at me. Gracie, you should go for it.’

‘Shall I go to his flat now?’

‘You’ll only be a pest if you stay here…’

I hesitate.

Faith smiles. ‘I’ll take care of your mum. You know what she’d tell you to do.’ She plucks the pink carnation from my lapel.

‘I’m not sure I’m brave enough to chase him, Faith. What if this is another wrong turn?’

‘What if it isn’t?’

I look down at my hands. They’re shaking.

‘Zelda asked me to pass on a message.’ Faith bundles me off towards the exit.

‘What’s that?’

‘No rain, no rainbow.’

36

I arrive at Harry’s apartment giddy with nerves, to find a broken key jammed in his front door. I knock quietly. Nobody answers. When I knock again, the door swings open.

‘Hello,’ I call out. ‘Anybody home?’

I enter the flat, pulling the door mostly closed behind me.

I walk around inside. The girls aren’t here. Harry is outside on the balcony, looking out over the Thames river. The pretty blue and white lights over Tower Bridge are sparkling. The air is warm, a gentle breeze. I sidle to the railing beside him.

‘Hi.’

‘Hi.’ Harry must be surprised to see me, but he smiles.

‘You left me?’