‘Are you sure about that drink?’ asked Cameron. ‘Sounds like you’re going to need at least a couple.’

I turned back towards him and laughed. ‘You’re right,’ I said, ‘and thanks, a pint of cider for Giles and a half for me would be great. We’ll get the next round.’

Chapter 27

Having said goodbye to Kerry and Cameron at the garden gate – Kerry hugging us twice, Cameron raising a hand – Giles and I made our way up the path and into the house, where we were immediately greeted on entry by the sound of Anthony whimpering excitedly in the kitchen.

‘I’ll let him out,’ I said, as Giles crouched and began to tug at his laces. ‘Cup of tea? I’m having peppermint.’

He didn’t reply and I paused with my hand on the back-room door. ‘Giles?’

‘What? Sorry?’ He let the laces drop and looked up at me, blinking at half speed.

‘Cup of tea?’

‘Oh yes, of course,’ he said. ‘I shall make a pot momentarily.’

‘No,’ I tutted, ‘I’m offering to make you one. Go and relax in the living room and I’ll put the kettle on. Peppermint?’

‘Super, smashing, marvellous,’ he grinned, and then, abandoning his efforts to untie his shoes, he stood up and, steadying himself against the wall, eased them off his feet. ‘Must’ve done double-bows,’ he muttered, before meandering into the living room.

I released Anthony from the kitchen and watched as he immediately raced off, presumably to cover Giles in slobber, and then I set about making the tea.

It can’t have been more than five minutes later that I entered the living room to find Giles fast asleep in an armchair, feet outstretched and head resting on the back of the chair. Anthony was also out for the count, stretched across Giles’s lap.

I smiled, placing Giles’s tea quietly on the table next to him and then sitting down on the sofa with my own. It had, I decided, been an unexpectedly fun evening, due in large part to the pleasure and relief I had felt at seeing Giles and Kerry so apparently at ease with each other once again. But that aside, I had also, I admitted to myself, very much enjoyed Cameron’s company – after a slightly awkward and guarded start. OK, so alcohol had undoubtedly helped, but I felt that there had also been a genuine, grass-roots improvement in our relationship. And that made me feel better about him, and about us, and about life in general.

Anthony sneezed, waking Giles with a start. His eyes opened wide and he slowly lifted his head to look at me.

‘I’m so sorry, Edie,’ he said, rubbing his eyes. ‘Did I drift off there?’

‘You did, but I forgive you and your tea is next to you,’ I said. ‘But wouldn’t you rather just go straight up to bed?’