‘In a nutshell… Luke: mid-twenties, wouldn’t look out of place in a boy band. Clinically obsessed with his hair and I’m definitely not his type.’

‘Fair enough. Next!’ shouted Kerry, waving her glass.

‘Roger: sixty-something. Hobbies include bowls and being Northern.’

Kerry laughed.

‘I actually love them both to bits and I couldn’t work with nicer people,’ I said, smiling at the thought. ‘If they were my age – and I was their type – I’d definitely be hankering after one or both of them.’

‘And your boss?’

‘Alison’s scary, but doesn’t mean to be. Definitely married to the job and not touchy-feely at all, but tries really hard to relate and act normal. She’s very straightforward. You know that if she’s got something to say to you, she will say it to you.’

‘Yes, Ron likes that about her.’

‘Me too. Talking of Cameron, where is he tonight?’

‘Haven’t the faintest.’

The response surprised me and sparked a renewed interest in their relationship. But Kerry’s widowhood somehow made even gentle nosiness feel inappropriate. So I reached for my wine, pressing my lips firmly together until the drink reached them in order to keep all tipsy enquiries at bay.

‘It’s good that you and Ron are getting on so much better now,’ said Kerry.

I looked up from my glass. ‘Has he said that?’ I asked, delighted by the possibility.

‘Well, no.’

‘Oh, OK,’ I said, immediately deflated.

‘He doesn’t actually say, “I’m getting on much better with Edie”,’ continued Kerry, ‘but I can tell he is because he talks about you now – by name – whereas he didn’t before. Now, he says things like, “And I said to Edie…” and “Edie suggested…” and “Edie really liked this… this doughnut thing I’ve added to my staircase.” That kind of thing.’

‘That makes me feel really nice,’ I said, with a childlike simplicity borne of booze. ‘Thanks for telling me.’

‘And you feeling really nice about it makes me feel really nice too,’ she replied huskily and with some emotion, a reaction, I assumed, also attributable to half a bottle of red wine.

We sat for a moment, smiling inanely and enjoying the shared sense of well-being, before she said, ‘Tell me to piss off and mind my own business if you want to, but did you ever have it out with her? You know, the woman who lied about Ron.’

I took a deep breath and shook my head. ‘I did not,’ I said solemnly.

‘And you’re OK just leaving things like that?’

‘I think so,’ I replied uncertainly. ‘I mean, sometimes I think maybe I should have said something. But then I think, what would that actually achieve? Things are really good at the moment; I’m back to loving my job and looking forward to going to work. So why make myself all stressed and miserable for nothing?’