She’d already been won over by Paula, and Matt had turned out to be as good-natured and lovable in person as he’d been in their secret pre-birthday correspondence. (She’d pretended to Paula that she wanted to ask his advice about trees, on behalf of a friend; Paula clearly hadn’t suspected a thing.) Dave and Bunny were absolutely adorable, so visibly in love that they’d held hands almost the entire time, and were both super-friendly and welcoming, immediately inviting her, Craig and Fergus along to their wedding in the spring. She wasn’t entirely sure what had happened between John and his wife (ex-wife?) Robyn, but they were both very pleasant, individually, to her, as were Stephen and his partner Eddie. As it turned out, Stephen was a solicitor specializing in family law and had been interested to hear about the Julia saga. ‘Any further problems, ring me,’ he’d said, handing her his card. Then he’d grinned. ‘Or just ring for a chat too, obviously. I can do big-brotherly advice as well as the legal stuff.’

‘Big-brotherly advice,’ Eddie scoffed, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling. ‘Spot the youngest child who’s thrilled to be an older sibling all of a sudden,’ he added teasingly. ‘Don’t let him start bossing you around now, Frankie. He’s been longing for this moment, his whole life!’

Frankie had laughed at Stephen’s indignant face. ‘I don’t mind at all,’ she assured them. ‘I’m thrilled, too, to have some big brothers and a sister, after being an only child forever. And thank you,’ she added, tucking the card in her purse.

The only person who hadn’t come over and chatted to her was the matriarch herself, Jeanie, but that was understandable, Frankie thought, eyeing her across the room as she briskly stacked empty plates and stooped to pick up a fallen wine glass. That was fine. Harry assured her that he was ‘working on it’, which was all Frankie could hope for, really.