They ended up with a sort of in-joke about prescriptions. Penny had told him at length about the supplier who had messed up the veg order and how she’d had to improvise their menu for the rest of the day at the last minute.

The doctor prescribes one menthol cigarette on the back step and a voice note to your sister, he’d texted, knowing her routine even though she’d only mentioned it once, and in the context of another conversation.

When he was home one night, buzzed after his shift, Penny had gotten up for the loo, and seen that he’d written, Big decisions on a midnight snack: to have gorgonzola and pear in my toastie, or mozzarella and pickled peppers.

Penny had replied: The doctor prescribes two pieces of buttered toast and bed.

Not long after it was decided that Francesco would come over on Sunday. He’d arrive at the flat bearing gifts of brunch, and they’d eat on her terrace under blankets if the weather was bright enough or inside if it wasn’t. If they’d met on an app or dating site Penny wouldn’t allow such a thing – it would be far too intimate. But since he’d been to the café anyway, and she only lived upstairs – and they’d seemed weirdly quite drawn to each other at Dofi’s, not to mention how much fun it was swapping texts back and forth – well, it seemed like a safe enough plan.

‘Do you want me to give you an emergency call twenty minutes after he arrives, to give you a get-out card in case you need it?’ Sharon later asked, when she stopped by before closing to change the flowers in the café.

‘Don’t quote me on this,’ Penny said. ‘But I don’t think we’ll need it. I know it’s famous last words, but, I have a really good feeling that he’s not a shit.’

‘High praise,’ giggled Sharon as she arranged some extra-large buttercups in a big vase beside the coffee machine.

‘That’s what I said,’ said Stuart, who was finishing up for the day and had heard text-by-text, hour-on-hour about all of this unfolding. ‘I can’t believe the bar for us men is that low.’

‘It isn’t,’ said Sharon, right as Penny said, ‘I know.’

‘Avon calling!’ Francesco trilled, as Penny opened the door to him on the day of their date.

‘Good morning!’ Penny said, unsure if she should hug him, or air kiss, or shake his hand. Francesco made the choice for her by handing her a bag and leaning to brush his cheek against hers as he did so.

‘It’s cold today,’ he said, stepping over the threshold. ‘I think we definitely have to eat inside.’