Laura wondered if without Monica all the things that had happened to her lately would have happened and realised they wouldn’t. While she did wonder if meeting Dermot was going to spoil her for all the normal men she would meet in the future, she wasn’t sorry she’d met him. ‘Oh yes!’

‘Oh!’ Monica sounded a bit surprised at her fervency. ‘I love you too. Seriously, though, I’m really glad I met you because otherwise I wouldn’t have gone to Ireland and met up with Seamus again. That’s an old, turned new again, flame,’ she explained to Grant.

‘It’s all back on then?’ Laura sipped her spritzer. ‘So that agonising bike ride was worth it? Tell all.’

‘Well, a few days after we got home, he got in touch! He’d been thrilled to get my note apparently.’

‘So how long ago was this?’ asked Laura, trying hard not to be jealous. Dermot had called her but only to ask her a favour.

‘A couple of days ago.’

‘But you and Laura came back from Ireland ages ago,’ said Grant. ‘How keen is he?’

Monica flapped a scarlet-nailed hand at Grant. ‘Very keen, he’s just a bit laid-back. All Irishmen are. You just have to get used to it.’

‘That’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation,’ said Laura, although Monica was quite right – as far as her personal experience went, anyway.

‘He is laid-back but he’s also mad keen to get his band to do a set at the festival.’ Monica bit her lip. ‘Supposing they’re not good enough?’

‘Haven’t you heard them yet?’

‘No,’ said Monica, ‘and to be honest, going on what Seamus says about them, they’re a bit amateur.’

‘Just because you’re not paid for what you do, it doesn’t mean you don’t do it well,’ said Grant, for some reason feeling the need to defend enthusiastic amateurs everywhere.

‘That’s very fair of you, Grant!’ said Laura. ‘Quite out of character if may say so.’

‘Not at all. I’m always fair. After all, I did say I wanted to get involved in the festival too.’

‘Oh, well, I’m sure we’ll be able to find you a job,’ said Laura, who was pleased as Grant didn’t usually volunteer for anything. ‘Remember, it’s unlikely there’s any money attached to it. My fee is nominal as it is.’

‘I don’t necessarily have to be paid,’ said Grant. ‘I’ll have my redundancy money and my darling auntie, remember, and I’ve had some interest in the feelers I put out for bookshop jobs. Besides, apart from when it’s actually on, I’d be doing it in my spare time. I just want to have some of the fun you two girls are having.’