What’s up? You OK??

No.

I replied simply, followed by the exploding brain emoji and then a GIF of a small child who’d found her mum’s make-up bag.

Oh… don’t worry. I think I’ve got a plan. Call you in a bit.

I sent a string of hug emojis, stood up and went downstairs to retrieve the duplicitous fake lashes from the garden, with Clive trotting down behind me. Having found them and convinced him that they weren’t a delicious treat, I went and got him a real treat and then headed to my office to get back to work.

A couple of hours later, Poppy’s face appeared on my screen. I swiped the call to answer and found her beaming out the most enormous smile.

‘You look happy.’

‘You will too when I tell you what I’ve arranged,’ she said.

‘Am I going to like it?’

‘You’re going to love it!’

‘Come on, then.’ I grinned at her infectious smile. ‘What’s the secret?’

‘OK, so I’m guessing the tutorials didn’t go so well?’

‘That GIF I sent?’

‘Yep?’

‘That was an improvement on the results I was getting. I’m pretty sure Clive could have done a better job.’

‘Oh.’

‘Quite. I didn’t realise how out of practice I was at wearing make-up. Not that I’d ever really worn much before. I don’t know. Did it get harder or something?’

‘I do think the standards and aspirations got higher. Teenagers now spend so much time perfecting their make-up and hair, thanks to YouTube and influencers, that it suddenly feels like we’ve been left behind. And that’s before you look at the magazines and so on.’

‘I really hope you have the answer, then.’

‘I do! I’ve just given an old school friend a call. She’s a professional make-up artist now. Works on runway shows and films and all sorts. She’s going to come round and do your face for the premiere.’

‘Seriously?’ I felt my mouth drop open a little.

‘Yep.’

‘Does she want paying in cash? You know, off the books?’

Poppy frowned. ‘Oh! No, she doesn’t want payment.’

‘Huh?’

‘She’s doing it for free.’

‘She can’t.’

‘Well, she can, and she is. She’s actually a huge fan of your books so was super excited when I asked if she had any time.’

‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘You can say “Darling, Poppy, you’re an absolute genius.”’

‘Darling, Poppy, you’re an absolute genius!’

‘Thank you. And that’s not all. She’s bringing her mate, who’s a fabulous hair stylist, so you can get the full effect.’

I sat in silence for a moment, both overwhelmed and hugely touched that total strangers would do this. Yes, the woman was Poppy’s friend, but still. I knew it wasn’t going to be a five-minute job and I now had someone to do my hair too. It felt like a combination of putting on armour, at the same time as emerging from the self-imposed chrysalis I’d wrapped myself in over the years since Mike died.