Ordering burritos from the Mexican in Kensal Green, I dyed her hair a pastel pink, a tone that accentuated her colouring beautifully and got rid of those terrible roots. I removed her chipped black polish, gave her a manicure, steamed her face.

But at bedtime, having spent an hour on her phone while I tidied up the bunting edges, she dived back down into depression.

‘What is it, Ces?’ I probed gently, but she wouldn’t say.

Pulling the blinds in her room when she eventually slept, I saw that pink Evoque pull in again beside Fin’s flat.

And this time, as he swung his long legs out the car, I had a better angle to catch the driver’s face in the street light as she leant to say goodbye.

Frozen at the window, I felt winded for a moment with surprise when I realised who it was.

Why were men always so bloody disappointing?

Ruby

SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

An apricot-streaked dawn beckoned in a mild, dry day – a fact much celebrated on the WhatsApp street party chat.

No rainy-day contingency plans needed, hurrah! Nella pinged out. Thank God!

I didn’t think God had much to do with it; mostly, people were just relieved their blow-dries would last.

Those of us who’d actually managed to get our hair done, that was.

Having lured Zach from his pit with the smell of bacon butties without too much complaint, we stood together at the Jacksons’ gate first thing, the early autumn wind light on our faces.

‘Man.’ Zach did suck his teeth this time, gazing wide-eyed at the house. ‘They must have a lot of P.’

‘A lot of what?’ I let the teeth-sucking go.

‘Loaded, Mum. That’s some house. They must be properly loaded—’

‘So?’ Clutching my Tesco shoppers full of biscuits for the cake stall, I felt the twitch of deep irritation in my actual feet, remembering my inclination to have pulled out of helping earlier. ‘They’re just normal people, like us.’

With a bang in my chest, I remembered my own trepidation when I’d first come to the house a few months ago.

‘Come on.’ I grabbed my son’s arm, holding on as firmly as he’d allow. ‘There’s lots to do, and it’s all for charity, Zach, just think of that. You don’t need to be intimidated. And your mates will be around later too, won’t they? Pav and Rocky are coming, aren’t they?’

He shrugged. ‘S’pose.’

‘And Cecilia, of course. Everything OK with you two?’ I hazarded the question – but Willow opened the front door before he could answer.

‘Hello!’ She was demure in a pale pink tracksuit and Heidi plaits. ‘Want to come upstairs for a bit, Zach, and chill? I’m waiting for Lola. She’s a bit shook since that thing at school.’

Zach shook his head vigorously. ‘I’m good, thanks.’

‘He needs to help set up the main tent a bit first, love,’ I said quickly, wondering what thing she meant. ‘But I’m sure he’d love to later, wouldn’t you, Zach?’