I’d have thought more people would have sought me out to say hello. I’ve already seen several of the school parents – Georgina, Ellen and Liz for starters – go over to speak to Toby, but they haven’t greeted me yet. And perhaps I’m being paranoid, but I can’t seem to even catch their eye. I tell myself to stop worrying. I think I’ve spent so many days stressing about everything, that I’m now unable to simply relax. I remind myself of Toby’s speech. Of what this evening is about. And I resolve to put my worries aside. To stop thinking about everyone else.

‘Toby told me you were staying over for the whole weekend.’ Becky lifts a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

‘Yes, two nights of luxury and a spa treatment tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Lucky cow. Think of me on my feet all day at work tomorrow.’

‘Aren’t you both off to the Caribbean over Christmas?’

‘Well, yeah, but that’s almost a week away. I’m not sure I can hold on until then.’

Sam rolls his eyes. ‘I think you’ll be okay, Becks.’

‘It’s all right for you, you’ve got a desk job.’

‘Yeah, but who has to massage your feet when you get home?’

‘You love it.’

‘Ew.’ I wrinkle my nose. ‘Too much information.’ I know what she means about the workload though – the salon’s crazy at the moment. At least Jennifer’s recovered from the magazine debacle. She’s here tonight and seems to be enjoying herself. She hasn’t mentioned anything about Cassie this evening, thank goodness for small mercies.

‘Uh oh.’ Becky lowers her gaze and then gives me a nervous glance.

‘What?’ I fiddle with one of my earrings.

Becky purses her lips and glances at Sam.

‘What?’ I demand.

‘You’ll never guess who’s just walked in. Don’t turn around,’ she adds quickly.

My stomach swoops. ‘Please, God, not Cassie.’ Bang goes my resolution to relax and enjoy this evening.

‘Hmm. I take it you didn’t invite her?’

‘We-ell…’

‘Oh, Zoe! Why on earth would you send that poisonous bitch an invitation?’

‘I didn’t!’

‘So she’s gatecrashing?’

‘Not exactly. It was before the whole article thing… when she was in the salon… she was dropping massive hints about wanting to come and not having seen our schoolfriends for ages. And, well, I couldn’t very well not ask if she wanted to come. You know what I’m like.’

‘Yeah, you’re too much of a pushover.’

‘Becky!’ Sam tells her off.

‘Thanks, Sam. I prefer to think of it as being a nice person.’

‘Well there’s nice and then there’s masochism.’

‘I honestly didn’t think she’d come here, not after what she did. I mean, no normal person would do that, would they?’

‘The girl has absolutely no shame.’ Becky glances past me surreptitiously. ‘Oh shit.’