Thankfully, once we turn the corner behind the market, the trade entrance is clear of cars because the florist is outside in a hi-vis jacket stopping anyone who tries to park there. He waves us through the side entrance, giving us a thumbs up, the delight clear on his face. Most of the stalls are already set up as we edge through the buzzing lanes of Elffield market, and workers from the various businesses are crowded around their respective trees, making last-minute adjustments. Even Fiona is looking more colourful than usual as she sits on a stool next to Fergus, and they’re having a giggly conversation which involves lots of good body language. He keeps reaching over to touch her leg, her foot is hooked over her knee towards him and she keeps twirling a lock of lilac hair, and if they lean any closer to each other, they’re likely to crash together and fall off their stools.

‘Adorable, aren’t they?’ Noel says as he pulls up at the pumpkin stall and we sit and watch them in silence for a minute.

A minute is all we get before Fiona sees us and gets so excited that she spills her coffee, leaving Fergus to clean it up as she rushes over to the truck.

She’s waiting at the door before Noel’s even got it open. She takes his arm and drags him around to my side as I slam the door behind me, where she practically throws us together and embraces us both at the same time.

‘Good morning to you too, Fiona,’ he says, the tone of confusion in his voice making me giggle.

‘I know why you two are late!’ She squeals at a pitch that I haven’t heard since that time my grandfather sat on his hearing aid when I was little.

‘We’re much earlier than usual,’ he protests.

‘Traffic,’ I say.

‘Kissing!’ She chirps so loudly that several people nearby stop what they’re doing and look at us.

Noel chokes and extracts himself from the hug. ‘I assure you the only creature I’ve kissed lately is Gizmo. Who, admittedly, is a very good kisser. It’s only when he starts using tongue that you run into problems.’ He meets my eyes over the top of Fiona’s head and winks at me, and it doesn’t help the giggling situation.

‘And on that note, I’m going to start unloading seeing as we’re so late.’ Noel pats her shoulder and excuses himself, giving Fergus a wave as he walks round to the back of the truck.

‘I should help,’ I start but Fiona stops me.

She beckons me nearer like she wants to whisper something. ‘You have stubble rash.’