‘I,’ said Penny, sashaying comically on the spot. ‘Am going to see,’ she wiggled her hips seductively. ‘Lizzo! Backstage passes baby!’

‘What?’ said Francesco. ‘When? How!’

‘Her tour manager comes to eat here sometimes,’ Penny said, noting to herself only after she’d said it that, Huh, that was a version of the truth. But, it wasn’t any of his business, really, was it. Especially not after how he reacted to Priyesh.

‘When are you going?’ asked Francesco. ‘And am I your plus-one?’

Penny’s face fell. She didn’t want to disappoint him.

‘Pen, relax, I’m kidding. I heard you ask about Stuart. I think that’s a really nice gesture now I understand where you’re going. By the way, has he told you he finally asked out Safiya? She told me the other day. She quite fancies him, it sounds like.’

‘What?’ said Penny, excited for her café employee and his endless crush on their bread supplier. ‘He didn’t! All the more reason to invite him, now. I can meet Lizzo, and get the inside scoop on how he finally plucked up the courage. That’s very cool. He’s liked her for ages, you know. At least a year.’

‘You’re such a blatherer,’ Francesco said. ‘You can’t keep a secret to save your life.’

‘It’s hardly a secret now they’re dating, is it? But. Even if I am a gossip, I’m a gossip who also needs a favour …’

‘Go on,’ Francesco said, returning to his pan of spinning sugar.

‘I feel really bad asking this but – will you keep an eye on the place here? Keep me in the loop with what’s happening? The gig is Thursday night. I can have Manuela fill in as head and get a temp in as sous until Saturday lunch, so I get a proper break, and then I’ll be back for evening service on Saturday night. It’s just – everyone loves you here, and I know you’ll do right by me.’ She smiled at him. ‘What do you think?’

‘Of course,’ said Francesco, simply. ‘And don’t forget Charlie is the most competent front of house manager in the history of front of house managers, so if I were you I’d be zero per cent worried. Go. Enjoy. Bring us back some over-priced merchandise.’

‘Ahhh,’ said Penny. ‘Thank you! I’ll get you a t-shirt and a keyring. Cheers, pal.’ She let out another squeal.

Francesco admired the shapes he’d made on the baking trays in front of him and asked, ‘Won’t this be the first time you’ve gone back to London since you took over?’