‘I just worry that…’ God. It had all come tumbling out, inadvertently – and they’d all heard. ‘I mean, oh gosh.’

‘Oh wow.’ Rebekah’s mouth was almost hanging open.

It was the excited look on her face that stopped me. Zach would be mortified if he heard me talking about him like this. Worse, he’d be furious.

‘He’s fine, really fine,’ I tried to backtrack. ‘Of course he is—’

‘I’d like to offer my help if I can.’ Marcus was very grave, and I felt my eyes well. ‘And I definitely need his help with the street party, if he’s game.’

‘Ah, I’m sure it must be really hard for you.’ Nella cocked her head kindly. ‘But you have all of us. It takes a village, as they say.’

‘To do what?’ Melissa was bright and edgy with something indefinable.

‘To bring up a child. Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know. Didn’t you ever want a baby, Melissa? A career woman, I guess. I must say, I’m so blessed to have had both a fantastic career and kids.’

‘What exactly happened to Zach’s dad anyway?’ Hobbit-hands waved her plastic champagne flute louchely. ‘Don’t tell me, another bastard who did a runner!’

There was a brief and horrible pause as I dug my nails into my palm.

‘Not exactly,’ Melissa said drily, moving her warmth against me.

‘Altogether now.’ Marcus played the intro again loudly – and, for that, I felt infinitely grateful.

Until Nella raised her face to the sky and began to sing.

It didn’t take a musical expert to identify this was one area Nella did not excel in, her soprano resembling a small animal being dragged by its tail backwards. I fiddled with my wellie buckle, trying not to guffaw at Melissa’s elaborately crossed eyes.

Despite my earlier outburst, suddenly I felt glad I’d come. It may not be the village I was looking for – if I was looking for one at all – but it was surely better than being stuck in the flat, listening to Zach yelling at his PlayStation. Fresh air, and exercise for him and adult company for me.

Nella trilled to the last note and looked around, expectantly.

‘Aw, fab!’ Lena was bright with wine. ‘A song warms the spirits, eh?’

‘Great,’ I agreed dutifully.

‘I did a term at the Royal Academy of Music actually.’

‘In caterwauling?’ Melissa murmured quietly. This time, though, I felt a shiver of discomfort.

‘What’s that?’ Nella’s head jerked up.

‘I said you’re a classy cat.’ Melissa smiled back as Marcus broke into a jaunty ‘Yellow Submarine’, and the moment passed. But I didn’t think it was my imagination that Melissa had become more caustic recently.

‘Ruby should sing a solo. Come on, Ruby.’

‘Oh no.’ I prodded my friend. ‘I’m fine, thanks!’

‘Yeah, come on, Ruby!’ Bill smirked across the fire. ‘Don’t be shy.’

‘Ruby’s got the voice of an angel!’ Melissa ignored my frantic headshaking. ‘And the face of a devil, eh, Rubes?’