‘Don’t worry. It was fine.’

‘I was telling Julie how brave you were considering you hate all forms of public speaking.’

He gives her a knowing look. It makes me feel vulnerable knowing that he and Julie not only talk about me but that he’s also telling her my fears.

‘Actually I kind of enjoyed it. And the teacher even asked if I’d like to volunteer for a children’s charity that reads to kids to try to encourage a love of reading.’

‘She did?’ says Dad, surprised.

‘Yes, she did. She thought I’d be good at it.’

I go on to explain what Claudia told me of the charity.

‘That sounds so worthwhile,’ Julie says, nodding encouragingly.

‘Aren’t you worried about what you’d be walking in to?’ says Miles. ‘All those problems that the kids might have.’

Typical Miles; I’m sure ‘always think the worst’ was drummed into him during his law degree.

‘Yes,’ says Dad. ‘Plus, I’m sure she’d understand that you with the kids was a one-off, that it wasn’t your kind of thing.’

I hadn’t really given it much thought before but hearing Dad automatically assume I won’t do it almost makes me want to give it a go. I know past Edie would have approved. This would well and truly be something out of my comfort zone.

‘Actually, I think I’m going to give it a go.’

‘Good for you, Edie, it’ll be rewarding,’ says Julie.

‘I think so.’

She points at the banoffee pie. ‘Anyone for seconds?’

Miles nods through his last mouthful and she scoops him up another slice.

‘It was delicious,’ he says.

‘If you think those are good you should try her scones. They’re so good her village has asked her to bake them for the tea tent at their fête.’

‘Stop it, you’ll make me blush,’ she says, her cheeks flushing. ‘But speaking of the fête, it’s next weekend if you fancy coming along.’

‘I love a cream tea, so I’d normally jump at the chance to say yes,’ says Miles, ‘but I’m going to Florence on a stag do.’

‘A stag do in Florence?’ Dad laughs. ‘I know since I got sober and older I haven’t been on that many stag dos lately, but Florence? That’s a first.’

‘Why not? Men have evolved since the days of heading to the pub and drinking for hours straight. Have you booked tickets for the Uffizi?’ asks Julie. I’m about to laugh out loud at the thought of Miles going to an art gallery on a stag do, but to my surprise Miles starts to nod.

‘Yes, we booked them a few weeks ago. I mean, obviously we have other stag do activities lined up, but you can’t go to Florence and not go there.’

‘Too true,’ says Julie.