‘Well, June,’ said Kerry, ‘we had better let Giles and Edie get on with getting on, hadn’t we?’

June started slightly, as if waking from a dream. ‘Oh yes. Yes, indeed we must.’ She smiled up at me. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you, Edith, and welcome to the avenue,’ she said, taking hold of her shopping trolley and making as if to leave.

‘Lovely to meet you too,’ I replied. ‘Hope to see you again soon.’

At that, she stopped short and turned, resting her hand thoughtfully against her chin. ‘What about the wine and cheese?’ she asked. ‘I do hope you will be coming along with Giles.’ She paused, looking from myself to Giles. ‘It’s at my house, on Friday 17 August, at 7:30 p.m.’

‘Well, I’m not sure,’ I said, taken by surprise. ‘What a very kind invitation. That sounds lovely. I’ll check if I’m free.’

June nodded. ‘And I’ll be sure to call round on the night to remind you.’

‘Ooh,’ I said, attempting a smile, ‘that’s very…’ I hesitated and turned to Giles, ‘thorough of you. Will you be going, Giles?’

‘Yes, I will be there,’ he replied solemnly, now looking pained as well as pink.

‘Great,’ I said, trying not to sound too disappointed, but aware that Giles’s reaction was more that of a man confirming his attendance at a murder trial than a drinks party.

‘Yes,’ said June, clapping her hands lightly, ‘and you can come along on his arm, Edith, and then everyone will see that he isn’t—’

‘Are you getting your avocados from the veg shop or Waitrose, June?’ asked Kerry.

June looked at her blankly, clearly requiring a moment to compute the swift change of topic from Giles’s sexual preferences to fruit and veg. ‘Greengrocer,’ she said eventually. ‘They’re certain to be cheaper.’

‘Bound to be,’ agreed Kerry. ‘I get all my veg there.’

‘Very wise of you, dear.’ June patted Kerry’s arm and then, after briefly taking my hand and Giles’s in her own and pressing them together, she reached for her shopping trolley once more and walked slowly away in the direction of the High Street. I, meanwhile, made a mental note to tell Luke on Monday that I knew someone very attractive, and under forty, who shopped in the Henleaze veg shop.

‘Well, that’s you two married off then,’ said Kerry.

I laughed a little awkwardly, while Giles tutted and picked up the crate of shoes. ‘Good to know that the entire neighbourhood has been debating my sexuality for the past two years.’

‘They’re just confused by your new-man sensitivity,’ said Kerry. ‘They can’t relate, that’s all. Anyway,’ she sighed, placing her hands on her hips, ‘as I’m out here, can I do anything?’

‘Thanks,’ I smiled, ‘but we’re almost done, I think.’