“Was she, now?” Lulu filed for future reference this useful piece of information.

“And she was very pleased when you came along,” said Emma. “I think she’d wanted to have more children than Mom, but she couldn’t, I don’t know why. So she was pleased about you, and she was just delighted about Sophie.”

“Little did she know,” said Lulu.

“I have an announcement,” said Sophie one lazy Sunday as the flatmates lounged in the living room in the lengthening spring evening, happily sated with weekend leisure.

“Oh, God,” said Lulu from the depths of a capacious armchair, where she was entertaining herself with sudoku. “What have you done now?”

“I haven’t done anything,” said Sophie. “Do you think there’s any way you might just manage to stop being so revoltingly suspicious of me for just one minor fraction of a microsecond, please? Actually, I’ve got something to say that you’ll both really like.”

“You’re moving out?” Lulu sat up hopefully. “Can I help you pack?”

“What I have to say,” said Sophie, addressing herself with dignity to Charlie, “is that I’m inviting you both to dinner here at the flat on Saturday night. I’ve spoken to Mom and Dad and Emma and Matthew, and they’ve accepted with pleasure. And I’d be delighted if you—if both of you—would do me the honor of joining us, too.”

“Interesting,” said Lulu. “Interesting and hospitable. And, just to satisfy my curiosity here, exactly who is supposed to be cooking this sumptuous feast?”

“Me,” said Sophie.

“Oh, God.” Lulu lay back in her chair and covered her face with a cushion.

“This is so not fair!” said Sophie. “That is exactly—exactly, precisely, and word for word—what Emma said. You neither of you believe me that I can cook, but I really can. I learned while I was at drama school, and I did lots of cooking at Esme’s place, and she really liked it, so there.” She looked down at her jeans-clad legs and became busy rubbing at a rip in the knee. “And you two have been so nice to me,” she added quietly, addressing the faded denim, “letting me live here, which has really saved my life, and Charlie’s been so wonderful when I’ve messed things up, and even Lulu hasn’t been too horrible, considering, that I’d really like to do something nice for you in return. So I’d like to ask you to dinner, please. I’d really like to cook dinner for you.”

There was a pause while Lulu and Charlie exchanged glances.

“Well, that would be very kind of you, Sophie,” said Charlie then. “Thank you very much, I’m looking forward to it. Aren’t you, Lulu?”

Lulu looked at Sophie and sighed.

“Really looking forward,” she agreed. “That’ll be nice, Soph. Want me to help you with the cooking?”

“No!” Abandoning the tear, Sophie threw up her hands in frustration. “You always do this, Lulu, you always try to take over, and it’s really irritating. I don’t want you to help, that’s just the point. It’s something I want to do for you, okay? I want to do it and I can do it, so could you just for this one occasion, please, just find a way to believe it and accept it and say thank you for the invitation?”