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dropped him off at Helen’s, I’ve plenty of time to prepare something.’
    â€˜I’m surprised Helen didn’t want to meet the train.’ Judy picked up a box marked ‘Kitchen’ and carried it through to the narrow galley.
    â€˜According to Martin, it was Jack’s idea he meet him alone.’
    â€˜So Helen isn’t the only one who’s nervous.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t you be nervous if you were in Helen’s position?’ Lily asked, as Judy returned to the living room.
    â€˜I can’t imagine having a husband, let alone seeing him after a long absence.’
    â€˜You haven’t given a thought as to what it will be like to have a husband after you and Sam have been engaged for eighteen months?’ Lily questioned incredulously.
    â€˜I’ve been too busy opening the new salons and building up trade to think about weddings and marriage. Mam did what she could to help, but frankly it wasn’t much. Not that I’m complaining. She didn’t expect Billy’s arrival, not at forty.’ Judy referred to her twenty-month-old half-brother who had been born nine months to the day after her mother’s wedding to Lily’s Uncle Roy.
    â€˜Billy’s gorgeous and worth any number of salons, and considering you and your mother now have eleven …’
    â€˜Ah hah.’ Judy gave Lily a knowing look, as she heaved a box of books on to the table.
    â€˜Ah hah, what?’
    â€˜I detect a hint of broodiness in the bank manager’s high-flying secretary.’
    â€˜I am not broody.’ Lily opened the box and lifted out half a dozen books.
    â€˜Then you don’t envy your uncle and my mother Billy, or Katie and Mr Griffiths’ “forthcoming happy event” as Mrs Lannon and the rest of the Carlton Terrace “gossips” so coyly put it. And you never go all gooey over Billy and buy him toys …’
    â€˜And you, of course, hate Billy.’
    â€˜I adore him.’ Judy took the books from Lily and stacked them on to an empty bookshelf. ‘But that doesn’t mean I want a baby of my own.’
    â€˜You and Sam don’t want children?’
    â€˜I told you I haven’t had time to think about anything other than the salons for the last couple of years.’
    â€˜There’s nothing wrong between you and Sam, is there?’ Lily asked perceptively.
    Judy couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t known Lily, Helen and Katie. Even in the babies’ class in primary school, Helen had been the wild one, always up to her neck in trouble, Katie the quiet one and Lily the one who could be trusted never to betray a confidence.
    â€˜We’re fine,’ she answered slowly, ‘but … well, you know how it is. You almost got engaged to Joe before you married Martin.’
    â€˜I almost got engaged to Joe because I didn’t know the difference between wanting to be in love and being in love.’
    â€˜Wasn’t it more exciting with Joe?’
    â€˜What?’ Lily questioned, genuinely bewildered by Judy’s train of thought.
    â€˜Joe was your first boyfriend, he took you on your first date, gave you your first real kiss …’
    â€˜Every minute I spend with Martin is a million times more exciting than the time I spent with Joe and that’s without bringing kisses into it.’
    â€˜Come on, don’t try telling me that your heart still turns cartwheels every time you see Martin when you’ve been married to the man for almost two years?’
    â€˜Cartwheels and handstands.’ Lily had fallen in with Judy’s flippant mood but there was an underlying gravity to her voice.
    â€˜And you never think about Joe?’
    â€˜Only when Helen, Katie or his father mentions him and, when they do, I thank my lucky stars that I married Martin.’
    â€˜You’re serious, aren’t you?’
    â€˜Very.’ Lily handed Judy