The morning goes by in a blur of Christmassy cheer. I feel infinitely better now that my boss has forgiven me. I welcome in my third appointment of the day – Georgina O’Brien, a school mum who’s been a client of mine for years. As she sits in the chair and I examine the ends of her wavy light-brown hair, she seems worried.

‘Everything okay, Georgie? These ends could do with a couple of inches coming off.’

‘I know. I’m long overdue a cut.’

‘No problem, we’ll soon have you looking glamorous for the party tomorrow.’

She seems to shrink a little in her seat.

‘You all right? You and Niall are still coming, aren’t you?’

‘Uh, is it still on then?’

‘What do you mean?’ I let go of her hair and scratch the back of my head, that familiar sense of dread returning.

‘Oh.’ Her face pales.

‘Has something happened?’ I press.

‘I thought you’d know about it.’

‘Know about what? Please, whatever it is, just tell me, Georgie.’

‘Okay, well I might be wrong, but Niall’s brother is a waiter at the Regis and he said that the restaurant’s closed because they’ve had a visit from the environmental health department.’

I grip the top of Georgie’s chair and realise that if this is true, there’s no way the party will be able to go ahead.

Georgie’s face falls. ‘You didn’t know, did you?’

I shake my head. ‘How certain are you?’

‘Ninety-nine per cent. Sorry.’

My shoulders droop. ‘It’s not your fault. I’m just glad you told me.’

I realise Georgie has taken hold of my hand. ‘Try not to worry.’ She smiles at me in the mirror. ‘I’m sure they’ll sort out an alternative for you if their kitchen’s out of action.’

‘It’s lovely of you to be so positive, but it’s peak party season and the do is tomorrow. No. If Environmental Health are involved, then it’s game over.’

‘I’ll keep everything crossed for you.’

We spend the next couple of minutes discussing Georgie’s cut, and I do my best to concentrate and sound enthusiastic, but I’m desperate to call the hotel to find out what’s going on. I can’t very well abandon Georgie to make a private phone call. Not after what happened yesterday, with me running out on a client. Jennifer does seem to be happier today, but I don’t want to push my luck. My emotions are see-sawing between resignation and panic. Maybe I should just forget the whole thing. I’ve been nothing but a giant ball of stress this week. My wedding day was a disappointment, and it looks like our ten-year anniversary is shaping up to be more of the same.