‘Don’t listen to her, the last one I saw was brilliant,’ says Layla. ‘And Edie is great at it. All those years you told me you were scared of public speaking and then you get up on stage and do that, all off the top of your head. It’s incredible.’

‘You were scared of public speaking?’ Claudia wrinkles her face. ‘But you were a natural with the kids during your talk at the school.’

‘Maybe I seemed that way on the outside but on the inside I was terrified. Perhaps kids are an easier crowd.’

Claudia almost spits out her drink.

‘Are you joking? They’re one of the toughest crowds going. You don’t know when they’ll innocently come out with a brutal comment that would make some restaurant critics’ toes curl.’

‘That isn’t what you told me before the talk.’

‘Well, I didn’t want to scare you. Besides, you took it all in your stride. It’s why I think you’ll make a great teacher.’ She winces. ‘Oh, there I go again. I promised Robin that I wouldn’t push anymore.’

‘You want to be a teacher?’ asks Layla.

This summer’s been such a whirlwind that aside from Saturday night’s crying on her shoulder, Layla and I haven’t had much one-on-one time to catch up about anything other than the emails.

‘Since I’ve been volunteering at Big Little Readers, I’ve been thinking about retraining as a teacher, or at least I was until Dad had his operation.’

‘What? And teach kids like my two all day.’ She pulls a mock horrified face. ‘Not to mention I’d miss you terribly if you left Porter’s.’

‘Me too, although I wouldn’t miss your weird song choices on the office Spotify.’

Layla smiles. ‘Joking aside, though, I think it would be great if it’s what you want and it’ll make you happy.

‘Plus, you’d get all those holidays. Imagine what you could do with that time. You could go travelling or you could babysit, or even tutor my two wonderful children.’

‘The ones that you were just horrified that I’d have to teach.’ I can’t help laughing at her.

‘I’m sure they’d behave for you. What did your dad say about it?’

‘I hadn’t found the right time to tell him.’

Aaron walks up to the table before she can reply.

‘Hello, sorry to interrupt,’ he says, ‘but Edie, I think we’re going to get started on the warm-ups.’

He gives an apologetic smile to Claudia and Layla.

‘That’s fine,’ I say. ‘Right, ladies, I’ll see you after the show.’

‘Good luck or break a leg or whatever it is you’re supposed to say for improv,’ says Claudia.