I exchanged texts with Debbie and we met up at Baristas for lunch again. She seemed back to her old self now most of the restructuring was complete. I was happy to hear Stuart had managed to keep his job and asked Debbie to pass on my best wishes. We both ordered jacket potatoes and I was salivating when Susie delivered them, steaming hot, to our table. I’d been eating like a horse all week.

‘How do you get to stay so tiny?’ Debbie complained as I shovelled in layers of butter and cheese. She opted for the less fattening plain jacket with beans

‘I’m in the gym almost every day now. I’ve got a job at the boxing club, starting at the end of November. I’m going to have a complete change of career, maybe do a qualification in personal training,’ I said between mouthfuls.

‘That’s certainly a change! My brother’s a personal trainer, sees loads of bored rich housewives. Says they’re lazy cows. Do you know, he’s been propositioned three times since he started?’ Debbie shook her head in disgust.

‘Oh, I forgot, check out Doug,’ I said, showing Debbie a photo of a pug puppy I’d borrowed from Google images a couple of hours before.

She shrieked, practically ripping the phone out of my hand to have a closer look. ‘He’s gorgeous! When are you picking him up?’

‘Not until Christmas, he’ll be ten weeks then.’

She handed me back the phone and scooped some beans up onto her fork before picking her own phone up and showing me around twenty photos of her westie. To be fair, it was a cute mass of curly fluff.

‘I remember what I wanted to ask you, Debbie. Could you do me a massive favour?’

‘Of course,’ Debbie said, flushing with pride.

‘The camera you’ve got for Molly, I want to get one for Doug when he comes home. Did you say it was from eBay?’

‘Yes, the PetCam, oh, they are good.’

‘I don’t have an eBay account, I’m rubbish at that sort of thing. If I give you the money, would you order me the same one?’ I lied, taking out my purse and retrieving some notes.

‘Of course, it’s twenty-five pounds I think, but I’ll order it and you can pay me when it comes.’

‘If you’re sure? I’d really appreciate it,’ I said, smiling at Debbie.

‘Absolutely.’