‘I’m just getting a coffee and look what beautiful specimen is behind the counter,’ Sharon said.

‘Hi, gorgeous!’ Stuart waved down the line. ‘We miss you!’

On screen Sharon turned to Stuart and said, ‘Penny gave her wine merchant a hand job at the staff Christmas party last night, and is now having an existential crisis about it.’

‘I don’t miss those,’ he said, and he and Sharon laughed.

‘Hello, this is my life that you’re ripping to shreds and making me feel awful about!’ Penny shrilled. ‘I wanted actual advice, not teasing.’

‘Hangover?’ said Stuart.

‘Twenty men playing trumpets behind my eyes,’ Penny replied.

‘Look,’ said Sharon. ‘Re the wine merchant, if you’re as embarrassed as you say you are, the cleverest thing to do is take control of the situation. Then you can mark it off as “resolved” in your imagination and move on to inventing another problem because you’re bored.’

‘I’m not bored.’

Stuart started to steam milk and Sharon told him off for the noise, stepping away so she could be heard. ‘You are, Penny. It’s okay. You’re a long way from home and being wined and dined is a good way to distract yourself. There are worse things you could do. I approve of it, in fact.’

‘Okay Freud, that’s enough,’ said Penny. ‘Thanks for the analysis.’

‘I love you,’ Sharon said. ‘I really will come up and visit in the new year. It’s just been a nightmare with the kids, and work, and Luke’s mum not being well. But I am coming. Promise.’

‘It’s okay,’ replied Penny. ‘I’ve spent all this time getting settled. In the new year is perfect. It will give me something to look forward to.’

‘Excellent,’ said Sharon. ‘Okay. Go post a note through that man’s door!’

‘Enjoy your day,’ Penny giggled, rolling her eyes.

‘Bye, Penny!’ Stuart waved, and as soon as she hung up, a voice came from behind her, ‘She’s right you know.’

Penny spun around to see Charlie leaning in the doorway. ‘Jesus!’ she said. ‘How long have you been stood there?’

‘Ages,’ said Charlie. ‘I kept waiting for you to notice, and then when you didn’t it seemed weird to skulk off so I stayed.’

‘Right. So you heard—’

‘Yup.’

‘And so you know—’

‘Yup.’

‘Right.’ Penny stood. ‘Ouch,’ she said, the sudden movement causing a nausea to run over her. ‘My head.’

‘Never mind your head – how’s your wrist?’ Charlie quipped, and Penny laughed in spite of herself.

‘Oh bugger off,’ she said.

‘Sharon is right, you know. You can’t just ignore it and hope you never see him again. You can regret it, but you can’t be a dick about it.’

Penny nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Urgh. I hate having to have manners!’