‘Mmm, this looks great,’ an older lady in an orange party hat says as I put her plate in front of her.

‘Hope you enjoy!’

‘I’m sure we will.’

The bell above the door rings and I glance around, checking to see if there are any spare tables. There’s one left, by the counter. I look up with a smile, ready to direct whoever it is to the table.

It’s Kate. She doesn’t look happy.

I clasp one hand in the other and try to stay calm, but there’s a lump in my throat and I’m suddenly really hot.

Kate looks chic in a Barbour and jeans, her hair in a ponytail. She has an oversized navy umbrella in her hand that’s dripping all over the café floor. I wonder how she manages to always look so smartly and expensively dressed, given that they live in a tiny ex-council flat.

‘Hi, Kate.’ I go for breezy and friendly, wondering if I can brazen this out. ‘How are you? Are you here for brunch? You’re in luck – there’s one table left.’

Her facial expression hasn’t changed from stony. ‘I need to talk to you.’

‘Oh. Yes, sure. Thing is, I’ve already had my break and my shift doesn’t finish until two thirty. You’re welcome to pop over with the kids after school, if you like?’

‘Rachel!’ Dee’s calling. She’s pointing to a table near the back where a couple want to pay their bill.

I nod and hold my fingers up to indicate I’ll just be a couple of seconds.

‘I need to speak to you now. It’s urgent.’ Kate’s voice is clipped, monotone. It makes me feel slightly queasy and also a little hysterical, like I could laugh out loud. The feeling reminds me of an incident back when I was at school, sitting an English exam. The invigilator was this really strict teacher who everyone was afraid of. My friend Karen and I couldn’t stop laughing, even though we were terrified of getting in trouble. In the end, we were sent out and both given detentions.

I glance around the café, but it’s so busy there’s no way Dee will stand for me nipping off to talk to a friend. We’re short-staffed as it is – Chrissie called in sick today, so Dee’s already a bit tense. ‘I’m sorry, Kate, I can’t get away right now. As you can see, we’re rushed off our feet.’

She presses her lips together. ‘Fine. Two thirty, down by the river.’

I raise an eyebrow, as though surprised by her attitude. Even though I’m not surprised at all. ‘Okay,’ I reply with a small bemused smile. ‘See you later.’

She doesn’t reply. Just turns and leaves. The bell jangles loudly as the door crashes shut behind her. I realise I’m shaking.