They were sitting in their favourite café just around the corner from the bookshop. Laura couldn’t help but glance in as she went past. It was empty now and except for the many shelves it looked like any other retail space. It had felt strange not to be going into work but she hadn’t really had time to feel too bereft. And now she and Grant had been catching up as well as reminiscing.

‘Isn’t it supposed to be a really bad idea to buy cars from friends? What if it goes horribly wrong? I might never speak to you again,’ she said.

‘I’ll take the chance,’ said Grant. ‘I’ve got lots of friends, after all. I can afford to lose one. You’re not so lucky, of course.’

‘I’ve got loads of friends! You, and Monica. Fen’s definitely a friend. All my uni friends—’

‘Who are where, exactly? Not taking you out clubbing every weekend, are they?’

‘They’re not exactly local, I must admit.’ Laura wondered if she could change the subject before she had to also admit that all her uni friends had high-powered jobs in London or were saving the planet in the Galapagos. ‘Are you in close touch with all your uni chums?’

He shrugged. ‘Only on Facebook, I suppose. But I really do think I’m the only normal person you know round here,’ he said, sipping his coffee and preparing to dig into a slice of lemon cake.

‘Monica’s normal,’ said Laura, wondering if someone who wore a pink wig for a living could truly be described as normal.

‘I’d love to meet her.’ He paused. ‘Tell you what, I’ll sell you the car for five hundred pounds and a night out with Monica. Can you manage that?’

‘The night out with Monica, almost certainly, but as for the car, jot down its CV and I’ll ask my car consultant.’

‘Your who?’

‘Rupert. He was advising me on what sort of car to get.’

‘Well I should think mine ticks all the boxes and it’s in good nick.’

‘I know, and I like driving it, but I feel I should just run it by him as he was taking such an interest.’

‘Give me a bit of paper then, and I’ll write down the details.’

‘Brilliant,’ said Laura, taking the paper and putting it in her bag. ‘Now do you think we should ask any sci-fi authors to the festival, or are they a bit specialist?’

‘Depends who you have in mind.’

They discussed this for a while until Laura looked at her watch. ‘Now I really must go back. I’ve got all those manuscripts to read and I must phone Rupert about the car. I’ll ring you the moment I decide. OK?’