‘I don’t. I’ve made these so many times I could make them in my sleep. You, on the other hand, are a different matter.’

‘True.’

‘Put this on,’ Mandy said, and handed her an apron.

‘Nigella doesn’t wear one.’

‘Well, when you become a domestic goddess, you can wear whatever you like. Cook in a bikini for all I care. Until then, trust me.’

She thrust the apron into Nicole’s hands. She also handed her a small box neatly wrapped and tied with a white ribbon. ‘I thought you could use these.’

Nicole opened the gift. Inside was a set of measuring cups. She let out a laugh. ‘Thanks.’

Turned out Mandy was right about the apron. Nicole was covered in flour and coconut by the time the trays made it into the oven. Together they cleaned up the mess she’d made on the bench and washed up the dishes.

‘How’d you get to be such a good cook?’ Nicole asked as they put the kettle on, anticipating the warm biscuits that would come out shortly.

‘Mum taught me. She was tops.’

‘My mum tried to teach me, but I wasn’t interested. I always had my head in a book.’

‘It’s never too late to learn.’

‘From her it is.’

Mandy stopped pouring the hot water into the teacups.

‘My mum died three and a half years ago,’ Nicole explained.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ Mandy laid a gentle hand on Nicole’s arm.

‘Thanks. Dad was already gone, a year before that. It took a long while to adjust to the fact they weren’t there anymore. Especially Mum. I’m still not sure I have.’ She shrugged.

Mandy nodded. ‘My dad died when I was twenty. I still miss him every day. It’s kind of like, I don’t know …’

‘Like the whole world shifted slightly left, but you stayed put.’

Mandy squeezed her hand. In silence they drank their tea and waited.

The timer dinged.

‘Are we ready?’ Nicole asked, pleased the shrill chime had interrupted them. She pulled out the baking tray. ‘They look okay,’ she said.

‘They look great.’

‘Today the humble cookie, tomorrow soufflés and crème brûlée.’ Nicole flicked her tea towel in a flourish and both women burst out laughing.

‘So, Nicole,’ Mandy said, when they both calmed down. ‘I was wondering if you might like to come to trivia next Thursday night.’

Nicole winced at the thought, but tried to cover it up with a nonchalant expression. Going to the football was one thing, but trivia was much more intimate. She’d have to have conversations with strangers. She wasn’t ready for that.

‘Look, no pressure. But we are a fun team. It’s me and Cheryl – you remember her from the hardware store, Jacqui from the post office and Danny.’