I held up a hand. ‘Whoa, just a minute,’ I said, turning to him. ‘What’s with the rapid subject change? Am I seriously expected to make a speech?’

He hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. ‘Well… no… not as such.’

‘Not as such?’

‘All it is—’

‘Oh my God, I have to make a speech.’

Kerry shook her head. ‘Nah – it’s nothing. Honest. I swear to God, mine was three sentences long. Besides, everyone’s so pissed that no one cares or remembers. The ones without kids to get up for the next day are the worst. Like Patrick. He downs a beer a minute. And Stella’s always out of her box by nine and heads home across the back walls.’

‘Kerry’s right,’ said Giles ‘It’s all a bit of a blur for most of them and a fair few of them are totally deaf to start with anyway.’

‘Across the back walls?’ I queried, my horror at the thought of having to give a speech, for the moment supplanted by curiosity regarding Stella.

Kerry leaned in for a breadstick. ‘The first time she did it, it was for a bet, but now it’s her thing. She even left the back way when I had it here, didn’t she, Giles? She lives on the other side of the road, Edie, so that was really weird.’

‘You know you’re quite right, she did, Kerry,’ he agreed. ‘Do you remember that I found one of her clogs in my roses?’

‘Yep.’

I looked at Giles and my expression must have registered some concern.

‘Oh don’t worry. She’s a retired PE teacher, very physically fit and has, to date, sustained no injuries,’ he said happily, saluting both Kerry and myself with his glass.

‘You know, I bet you and Ron will be talking shop all night,’ said Kerry, prompting Giles to elbow me for a second time. ‘I’m sure you’ll get on. He’s a brilliant architect and really into his work.’

Giles emitted a strange sound; part sigh, part cough.

‘Did you meet him through work, Kerry?’ I asked, keen to discover more about the potential new contact. Maybe Ron and his connections could be the answer to my professional prayers.

She shook her head. ‘I work part-time, doing admin and reception at Warwicks.’ She gestured towards the window. ‘They’re the solicitors on the High Street. Before Harry, I was in insurance, but I don’t miss it. It wasn’t exactly a laugh a minute.’

‘So how did you meet Ron?’ I persisted, determined not to be sidetracked.

‘He’s Mark’s friend from way back,’ she began, before pausing, obviously noting my confused expression. ‘Mark was my partner. We lost him three years ago. Sorry, I thought Giles might have filled you in.’

‘I mentioned to Edie that Harry had lost his father,’ said Giles quietly. ‘But that was all.’