‘No need to be so touchy, sweetie.’

Mel, Laura’s partner, raises her eyebrows at me over Charlotte’s straw sunhat. She survived her own ‘hauling over the Coles’ because she gives as good as she gets. Andrew got through his because I prepared him in advance, telling him to gossip with Mum, talk engines with Dad, and keep his fingers crossed with my unpredictable sister.

Dan is so different. More charming, which should make it easier. But my family came to love Andrew completely, and they may be as baffled as I am by what I’m feeling now . . .

Bear begins to bark, and I look up to see Casey walking into the diner.

I do a double-take. Is that Casey?

Because her hair is pink.

Not bright pink, but soft apricot and rose tones that make her style seem fuller and her skin glow.

‘You’ve been back to Pepe,’ I say, jumping up from the booth and giving her a hug before inspecting again. ‘That’s so beautiful. Are you happy?’

‘It’s the best my hair has ever been,’ she says.

‘And the most I have ever paid a hairdresser,’ Dan says, wincing.

Look at him.

It was already a warm afternoon, but my body’s turned tropical now. When Casey crouches down to get the full-blown Bear love-bombing, Dan inches closer.

‘You’re beautiful,’ he whispers.

I have made an effort, something Mum noticed straight away. I ended up rifling through the suitcase of ancient clothes under the bed, because nothing in my wardrobe felt quite right. On a whim, I pulled out the sunset maxi dress from my art-student days and smiled as I tried it on, remembering.

Am I being daft? Hankering after the person I was seventeen years ago? Or, even worse, trying to compete with Angelica? That’s a competition I’ll always lose.

Except now I see the hungriness in Dan’s eyes, I don’t want to be her. Being me is enough.

‘Is that your family?’ Casey nods nervously at my gaggle. They’re waving like shipwrecked people who’ve spotted a lifeboat. She scratches her head and I want to move her hand away gently – tell her they can’t fail to love her.

‘Yes. They might seem eccentric, but I promise they are nice in their own way. They can’t wait to meet you.’ I look up at Dan. ‘And you.’

If anything, he looks more nervous than his daughter. But despite my earlier doubts, I am suddenly convinced it will be OK. Casey and Dan deserve to be loved. I think about her beads of courage, and his decision to take the risk of getting to know his daughter after so long.

I do take Casey’s hand now, to walk her towards our booth. ‘Meet Mum, Dad, Mel, Felix and baby Charlotte. Guys, this is Casey. Currently the smartest twelve-year-old in Bristol. This is her first time in Weston and we are going to show her all the highlights.’

As my dad shuffles up and pats the space he’s made to welcome Casey, Mum gives Dan an up-and-down leer that would get a man branded a sex pest. ‘And you can come and talk to me.’