Almost all of the new arrivals were in the same age bracket as Giles and myself, and included several mums I’d spotted going into Kerry’s house with their children. One in particular, Nicky – mid-thirties, with a newish baby boy and a daughter in Harry’s class at school – seemed to be very interested in me, and even more so in Giles.

‘So, you’re not his girlfriend, but he is straight,’ she said, slurring slightly on account of having been out for happy-hour cocktails with girlfriends before returning to meet her husband at June’s. ‘See, I told you he was straight, Andy,’ she said, slapping the hand of her husband, who was standing quietly at her side, contributing little to this particular thread of the conversation.

‘I don’t recall ever telling you that he wasn’t,’ he said, calmly sipping a fizzy mineral water, it being his turn, he had confided earlier, for Sober Saturday. ‘It’s hell if you’re both hungover,’ he had explained. ‘Last time that happened, we fell asleep on the sofa mid-morning and when we woke up, our eldest was styling Nicky’s hair with Weetabix. Only about a third of it had set solid but, you know…’ He shrugged. ‘It still wasn’t the best.’

‘So who was it who told me Giles was gay?’ persisted Nicky, her brow furrowing as she eyed Andy accusingly.

‘And again,’ he said, now sounding tense, ‘that someone was not me, Nicky, as I have no interest in, or information regarding, the personal relationships in which poor Giles chooses to engage.’

‘Poor Giles’s ears are burning,’ said Giles jovially, now joining the group.

Andy smiled and held out his hand in greeting, whilst Nicky’s response was altogether more vocal.

‘Can I set you up with my friends, Giles?’ she asked. ‘I’ve got two who are great, but I’m thinking maybe just one at a time, eh?’ She laughed loudly.

Andy, I noticed, had begun to rub his forehead.

Giles looked at me questioningly. ‘Well, that’s a very kind offer, but—’

Nicky held up a hand. ‘Let me stop you right there because I know exactly what you’re going to say. But don’t worry, both of my friends are women.’ She winked at him and tapped the side of her nose.

Giles frowned and his eyes narrowed slightly, a clear indication that he was attempting to fill in the conversational blanks. After a moment his expression cleared. ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘Because I’m not gay, Nicky. And thank you, Edie,’ he added, turning towards me, ‘for setting the record straight, so to speak.’

I focused on removing a stray hair from my dress, in preference to making eye contact with him. ‘Welcome,’ I murmured.