“And what?” said Sophie. “What are you two talking about?”

“It’s over your head, little snot-nosed sister. Go on, Charlie, spill. What happened?”

“I talked to Javier, Sophie,” said Charlie. “The business manager at work?”

“She knows who Javier is,” said Lulu. “What happened?”

“Well,” said Charlie, “I was getting a bit confused, Sophie, about whether he wanted to ask me out or not, so Lulu very kindly took me to chat to your mother about it, and we sat in the garden and talked it over, and she did a funny sort of thing, really, in that she didn’t actually give me advice as such about what to do, but she kept on and on asking me questions about all sorts of things, what was going on, what I was feeling, what would I feel if this happened, what would I feel if that happened, until in the end I found I was coming up with the answers all by myself.”

“She does that,” nodded Sophie.

“I know she does that,” said Lulu. “We all know she does that. Charlie, I am dying from suspense here.”

“So she and I talked it over for quite a long time, actually, and she kept on asking questions, and I kept on figuring things out, and in the end, we both agreed that, although it would be difficult and possibly embarrassing, it was probably the best thing in the long run if I at least tried to have a conversation with him, and find out what was going on.”

“Finally,” said Lulu. “At last we’re up to a bit which is news to me, too. So you talked to him today.”

“So I talked to him today,” agreed Charlie. She looked down at the table and smiled. “And … he’s taking me to see flamenco on Saturday.”

“Yes!” Sophie sprang up and flung her arms in the air, clacking imaginary castanets. “Let’s hear it for Carlita y Javier, lovers for the ages!”

“That’s wonderful, Charlie,” said Lulu more quietly, as Sophie stamped and twirled through the kitchen in triumph. Then, remembering their earlier conversation, “It is wonderful, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes.” Charlie nodded, ducking her head a little shyly, as she did when excited. “He said he’s been wanting to have the conversation for ages, but didn’t know how to. We cleared the air about Dad, we agreed that we know it’s going to be complicated, but we … well, we said lots of things, but the most important thing is, we agreed that we both really—really—want to give this a try.” Breaking her reserve for a moment, she grinned at the table, wagging her head in glee like a little girl. “God, Lulu, I can’t believe it’s actually happening! And, you know, we’d never have done it if I hadn’t talked to him, and I’d never have had the nerve without talking to your mum that night. She’s amazing, she really is.”

“Ha.” Dancing past, Sophie stopped in mid-stamp to toss her head. “Even I’d figured that one out by now.”