‘Well, I just wanted to thank you for being such a good friend …’

‘I’ve hardly been a good friend to you this year, Pops. I’m so sorry, I’ve been so caught up in stupid jealousy and resentment that I seem to have lost track of what’s really important. Forgive me?’

‘You silly sausage, there’s nothing to forgive,’ said Poppy, hugging her back. ‘And you really do look amazing in that dress.’

‘That is very true,’ boomed a voice from the doorway. ‘Wow! You girls sure know how to dress for a road trip!’

Bella laughed. ‘I’m not travelling in this, just trying it on. It’s a present from Poppy. I’m Bella, by the way,’ she added, wondering what this giant was doing in Poppy’s kitchen.

‘Lars.’ He walked over and kissed her on both cheeks.

‘Lars, it’s always lovely to see you,’ said Poppy. ‘But what the fuck are you doing here? You do know that we’re heading off this morning?’

‘That is why I am here. I am coming with you! I also want to find my good friend Damian, and I think it would be good for you two girls to have some protection.’

‘We don’t need protection,’ Bella and Poppy said in unison.

‘Also, Poppy, I can share the driving. You told me that your friend does not drive …’

Bella instantly felt stupid, and Lars smiled at her.

‘… and of course there is nothing wrong with that. But you see that, maybe, I have my uses?’ He put his large, square head on one side, imploringly, and both girls laughed.

‘Well, it would be good to have a fellow driver, I have to admit,’ said Poppy, looking apologetically at Bella. ‘And you’ve been so kind and helpful with Damian’s depression, ever since we met you, really. There’s more than enough room in the car I’ve hired … What do you think, Belles? It won’t quite be Thelma and Louise …’

‘Are you kidding? I think it’s really nice of you to offer, Lars, and we’d love to have you on board.’ Poppy had told Bella all about Lars, and she was warming to him already.

‘In that case, kiddo, you go put your travelling gear on, then LET’S HIT THE ROAD!’

‘LET’S HIT THE ROAD!’ repeated Bella and Poppy at the tops of their voices.

‘Check.’ Sam moved a pawn forward, exposing her queen, which now had an open path to Dan’s king. She looked up at him, grinning.

‘Shit. Didn’t see that coming. You bitch!’ He grinned back briefly, then resumed his concentration of the board. After a few minutes, he looked back at her in resignation. ‘Actually, Sambo, I think that’s checkmate. You got me again. Congratulations.’ He held out his hand, and Sam shook it.

A few weeks had passed since Sam had moved into the Crack Den, and so far the arrangement was suiting them all just fine. Sam had made Ross’s old room as nice as she could, filling it with her own stuff: her duvet cover and cushions and photos from home, and her black-and-white posters of old movie stars on the walls. And she always had fresh flowers on her bedside table.