She’s such a pretty girl; so vivid and confident. Yet as he looks at her, he notices something rather febrile about her, a slight lack of poise that shows a vulnerability. He wonders if she’s anxious that the evening at the pub might not go so well as that last lunch did; that it’s important her father enjoys his party.

‘I think it’s such a good idea to go to the pub,’ he says rather randomly. ‘Not so much pressure. It’s a kind of shared responsibility, isn’t it?’

He can tell by her faintly puzzled expression that this is not what is worrying her, and he feels a bit of a fool, but he doesn’t let himself get fazed.

‘Cara was telling me earlier that her big horror is organizing parties. They always had staff to do it for them at the embassies, of course, but even so, there’s quite a lot to oversee. I was just wondering if you might be having last-minute cold feet.’

She smiles then, gratefully, as if she thinks it’s nice of him to be concerned.

‘I think the whole thing will run itself,’ she says. ‘Especially as we’ve done it before and we all know each other …’

She trails off, biting her lip, as if she’s said something she regrets but he can’t think what it might be. Everyone knows each other, even if only slightly – and then he remembers that Cara told him that this guy Amy is seeing, Cosmo, is coming to the party. He wonders if this is making her feel a bit shy at the thought of them all sizing him up, but before he can speak his coffee arrives. The girl who brings it pauses to chat to Amy and Sam leans back, wondering how to proceed.

After the girl goes back to the counter, Amy sits forward and picks up her cup. She’s frowning, as if she’s coming to a decision, and then suddenly she speaks out.

‘To be really honest with you, Sam, I’m feeling a bit upset. I don’t know if anyone’s told you that I invited this guy I’ve met to Dad’s party? His name’s Cosmo and he’s house-and-dog-sitting for friends for a couple of months or so in Batson Creek. We’ve got to know each other and … Well, Dad wanted to meet him so I invited him and everything was great. And now I’ve just had a text saying he’s had to rush back to London. Just that. No explanation. I mean, it’s so embarrassing. Everyone is kind of sitting round waiting to meet him, teasing me about him, and what will I say?’