Ron, who had been leaning on the counter listening to Gilly’s explanation of her reading of Ezra and Edie’s relationship for the past five minutes, gave a low whistle. Bukowski interpreted this as a call for treats, appearing at his side with a hopeful look on his face.

‘Well,’ Ron said. ‘That certainly lends a new perspective, my girl. I think you might be on to something there.’

‘Thank you,’ Gilly said, throwing up her hands. ‘Rachel thinks I’ve got it all upside down, but I am absolutely sure that all they need is a push in the right direction and – bang! They’ll be like magnets.’

Ron nodded, lifting the glass dome of the cake stand to help himself to a shortbread. ‘Can’t hurt to try at least, can it? It’s always puzzled me, the way they can’t stand each other. Makes no sense. Whatever you’ve got planned, I’m in. Just let me know.’

‘Got any suggestions?’ Gilly asked. ‘I need situations where I can push them together without seeming like I’m pushing them together, and where it’s impossible for them to be annoyed at each other.’

‘Tricky,’ Ron said, around a mouthful of biscuit. He swept the resulting crumbs from the counter for Bukowski to deal with. ‘I suppose what you need, then, is something where one of them can do a good turn for the other.’

‘Yeah, but what?’ Gilly asked. ‘I can’t think of any situation where Edie would accept Ezra’s help. She’d rather die. Ezra would be the same.’

‘Maybe that’s where you being around can help,’ Ron pointed out. ‘Find something around the house that you can’t do, but Ezra can.’

Gilly screwed her face up. ‘I can’t think of anything that needs fixing. Anyway, I can’t invite Ezra into Edie’s house without her permission. That wouldn’t be right.’

‘Something in the garden, then,’ Ron suggested. ‘Edie loves that garden. Maybe you can get him to help you plant some new beds?’

‘I wouldn’t dare touch the garden,’ Gilly said. ‘Remember the goat?’ She frowned, racking her brain. Then she brightened. ‘There’s the shed, though! I noticed a leak in there when I was staying in it – it’s not a big one, but I told Edie and she said she’d get around to it at some point. She hasn’t mentioned it since – I forgot about it, I bet she has too.’

‘Sounds like an in to me,’ Ron agreed.

‘It’s perfect! I can tell Ezra I want to do something nice for Edie. I’ll put it to Ezra that he’s helping me, rather than her. Thanks, Ron! You’re a genius!’

Ron chuckled and snuck another biscuit. ‘I’ll wait until you’ve successfully executed your plan before I take that,’ he said. ‘Just in case this turns out to be an unexploded bomb you’re poking.’

‘It’s not,’ Gilly said, fully confident. ‘This is going to be brilliant.’

When next it rained she went into the shed and examined where the drips were working their way through the old roof felt. Then, the next time Ezra came into the bookshop, Gilly told him she needed some advice.