It’s not quite how I imagined tonight would pan out. As I thought I’d be left alone here, trying to maintain control, it’s been a delightful surprise, and Nick is lovely company. I realise I’m wrong to assume that the child-free – particularly child-free men – are keen to avoid large numbers of excitable children. At least, Nick has shown no signs of wanting to dash away.

‘Don’t keep him up too late,’ Penny chuckled as she left; her implication being that we might be up to something. But it is late now – it’s half past eleven – and, yes, we are up to something, although not what she might be implying. The thought of how she’ll react when she finally finds out about the museum project is enough to trigger a swill of nerves. But I’ve tried to push that aside as Nick and I have sipped mug after mug of tea, whilst discussing the project: specifically, how the fashion show might be staged and the exhibition presented in the space Hannah has allocated. We’ve come up with a decent publicity plan, combining both my theatre experience – often, I had a hand in promoting the productions – and Nick’s preferred tactics for publicising his own films.

Finally, the children’s excitable chatter dampens down. I go through from the kitchen to say goodnight, and when I return, Nick looks round from the table. ‘That’s the party finally over?’

‘I can only hope,’ I reply, feigning an exhausted swoon.

He laughs. ‘Seemed like it was pretty successful.’

‘It was, yes.’ I smile. ‘I even managed to be pleasant to Andy.’

Nick raises a brow. ‘It seems very civilised between you two, from an outsider’s point of view.’

‘I suppose it is,’ I say with a nod. ‘At least, now things have settled. In fact …’ I pause. ‘He seems to want to be friends, as if the events of seven months ago were just a blip, and perhaps we can make everything better again if he’s charming to my friends, and praises my sausages.’

Nick chuckles. ‘They were very good, Viv.’

‘Thank you,’ I say grandly, grinning as I sit back down opposite him. ‘He’s also keen to stress that he and Estelle are no longer in contact, that it’s definitely over with her.’ I smirk. ‘But, considering his past record as an accomplished liar and fraud, they might well be planning their wedding.’

Nick smiles. ‘You really do seem amazingly fine about it all.’