‘We need to celebrate,’ she said to Suzie, when she phoned her.

‘I’m always up for a celebration,’ Suzie said.

‘Then how about now? Are you free?’

It was Sunday morning, and Suzie was taking custody of a pair of black labs that evening, but she was free until then.

‘Can I bring Emma?’ she added.

‘Of course. She deserves to celebrate as much as the rest of us. How about you come to my house for half past eleven?’

‘I’ll be there. What are you planning?’

‘Just be here at half eleven,’ Judith said with a smile and hung up.

Next she rang Becks.

‘Hello?’ a breathless Becks said as she answered the phone.

Judith explained that she had a surprise, and she’d like Becks to come to her house for eleven thirty.

‘I’ll be there,’ Becks said. ‘Straight after church.’

‘That’s why I suggested we meet at eleven thirty.’

‘Although, now I remember, Colin and I are supposed to be holding a coffee morning straight after, back at the vicarage.’

‘With home-made biscuits all laid out on salvers, I imagine.’

‘You know me too well,’ Becks said with laugh while also knowing that Judith was wildly underestimating the work that went into a casual coffee morning.

‘In fact, I bet it’s all prepared already.’

Becks had taken the call in her kitchen and she looked at the porcelain platters of finger sandwiches, smoked salmon blinis, freshly peeled quails’ eggs, and home-made mini choux pastry eclairs, each plate entombed in layers of cling film.

‘I’ve maybe done a bit of the prep,’ Becks conceded.

‘So how about you do a bunk for once?’

There was a pause on the end of the line.

‘You know what?’ Becks said. ‘I think I will. I’m sure Colin will be fine without me. He can get the children to help.’

At eleven thirty, Suzie’s van arrived at Judith’s house and she and Emma got out. Becks had already arrived and was climbing out of her mud-spattered 4x4. Suzie could see that the tow bar at the back was still bent out of shape.

‘I’m down here!’ Judith called from the boathouse and Becks, Suzie and Emma walked down to the building to join their friend.

Once inside, they saw that Judith had put cushions in the punt, and there was a wicker picnic basket sitting on the back.

‘I’m not going out on the river again, am I?’ Suzie asked, horrified.

‘Don’t worry, I’m an expert sailor. You’ll be safe in my hands. Hop on board.’

Judith mentioned the name of a ramshackle riverside pub about half a mile away, and how she was planning to punt them there for an early lunch.

‘But on the way,’ Judith said, indicating the wicker basket, ‘I suggest we have a few treats. Let’s get going.’