‘What’s the latest from Luuk?’ Merrin liked to be up to speed with the state of affairs with the ‘Flying Dutchman’, as they had nicknamed him, because, despite finding out that Bella was pregnant, he had flown.

‘He says he’s still coming to terms with the situation.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Says he’s in shock, the poor love, and thinking about what he wants to do with his future. I told him that having an actual human the size of a large melon pop out of your tuppence was also quite shocking, but . . .’

Ruby spat out her tea. Merrin shouted her laughter and she remembered what was so wonderful about being in this little house with the women she loved and who loved her in return. The familiar ache at living so far away rolled in her stomach.

‘Tuppence!’ Ruby howled.

‘Honestly, you girls!’ Her mum delivered the tea and cake to the table. ‘Right, come on, Ruby. Sit down, my love, the curling tongs are hot. This is our last rehearsal; we’ll be doing it for real tomorrow.’

There was a moment of awkward silence as the women all shared uncomfortable glances, until Merrin decided to take the lead.

‘A rehearsal, now that’s smart.’ She ran her fingers through her own fringe. ‘Don’t want any burnt-hair disasters on the day!’ She felt the weight of tension leave the room.

Ruby sat down and put her head forward. ‘Like we practised, Mum: demi-wave curls, a sharp part to the left and then the big hair comb put in nice and tight – pulling the one side back up off my face. Okay?’

‘Okay, lovely.’ Her mum grimaced over her head. ‘Don’t know who she thinks I am, but I’m not a professional hairdresser, I can only do my best.’

‘You’ll do fine, Heather!’ Bella called out her encouragement. ‘This must be a bit weird for you, Merry? Remind you of Digby the shit?’

Merry gave a snort of laughter at this nickname and was thankful in a way that Bella had mentioned him, glad of the opportunity to let off some of the tension that bound her insides tight.

‘I suppose I’ve thought about it a bit more than I usually do.’ She played it down. ‘But it’s not like I’m traumatised at having to relive the whole thing or anything like that. I still feel embarrassed if I think about it, though.’ She stared at her lap, her quick blinking and the redness that crept over her neck and face suggesting it was not quite the breeze she suggested.

‘You have nothing to feel embarrassed about. His loss.’ Bella used this for the second time in as many minutes.