Amy couldn’t wait for Johnny to come home. She’d spent the morning cleaning the house and food shopping for all his favourite things. The doctors had told them that he was making an excellent recovery, but he’d need to take things easy for a while. After the last few weeks Amy thought that sounded like a very sensible idea.

As a thank you to Maggie and Marion for all their support, Amy had invited them over for lunch before she was due to drive up to Nottingham to collect Johnny.

The table was laid with a platter of cold meat, various cheeses, some bread and a salad, and she sat awaiting their arrival with anticipation. She and Johnny had done a lot of talking over the last two weeks and had come to a number of decisions, one of which involved Marion and Maggie.

When the ladies arrived, Amy opened the door and greeted them warmly.

‘Come through. Lunch is on the table,’ she beamed.

‘Oh, what a lovely spread!’ Marion exclaimed as she entered the kitchen. ‘You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.’

‘It was no trouble,’ Amy insisted as her friends took their seats. ‘I’m so glad you could make it.’

‘Well, I’ve been looking forward to this.’ Maggie eyed the fresh loaf of bread. ‘We can all relax now that it’s over.’

‘I invited you both to lunch because I want to ask you something.’ Amy’s eyes were smiling. ‘Johnny and I have been talking and we’d love it if you would both consider being the baby’s godmothers.’

Maggie leapt out of her seat and gave her friend a big hug.

‘I’m going to spoil that kid rotten,’ she promised.

Marion sat quite still, her eyes pricked with happy tears.

‘Oh, pet,’ her voice quivered, ‘it would be my honour.’

‘Wonderful! That’s decided then. Thank you both. You don’t know what it means to us. I can’t wait to tell Johnny,’ Amy said, resting her hand on top of Marion’s. ‘Right, now that’s decided, let’s have lunch!’ She reached for the bottle of sparkling water on the table and offered it to her guests.

‘I still can’t quite believe it.’ Marion shook her head, changing the subject. ‘Shirley, a killer.’ The women hadn’t really had an opportunity to discuss it since the news had broken.

‘I know,’ Maggie agreed, sinking her teeth into a slice of the white bloomer. ‘I never liked her much but I didn’t think she had that in her.’

‘Some people will stoop to any level to get what they want,’ Amy added thoughtfully.

‘And poor Janet,’ Marion added.

‘I know. Did you know she was gay?’ Maggie turned to Amy.

‘I didn’t have a clue. I knew she wasn’t really interested in men but I never gave it much thought.’