‘Ooh you’re a dark horse,’ said Sonia.

She’d been called worse. ‘Not really – why would I discuss my personal life at work?’

The woman chuckled heartily. ‘That’s the only reason I go to work: to live vicariously through everyone else. I love a good gossip me.’ She took a sip of her drink. ‘So tell me all about him?’

Ros was amazed that the self-declared office gossip thought her stupid enough to divulge anything. ‘He pines if I leave him alone too long so I’d better find him.’ Ros made good her escape but loads more people had arrived and now Cameron was lost to the throng. An unwelcome face popped up in front of her and stopped her search.

‘Are you looking for me?’ said Alastair.

‘Funnily enough . . . no.’

‘I heard you were bringing a plus-one. My source must have got that wrong,’ he said, knocking back the free beer. Ros tried to scan the crowd behind him for Cameron. ‘I’d been looking forward to meeting your plus-one. I had a fiver on it being a woman.’ He chortled at himself.

Now he had her full attention. Cameron’s advice came back to her. ‘Alastair, that’s where you and I are exactly alike.’

Alastair stopped laughing. ‘How?’

‘Women don’t fancy either of us.’ Alastair’s face looked like he’d been slapped with a large wet fish and Ros was about to dart off when she felt a strong arm around her middle and a kiss on her cheek.

‘Hi, I’m Cameron,’ he said, stretching out a hand, which Alastair belatedly took whilst still agog at Ros’s retort.

‘Alastair.’

‘I have heard an awful lot about you,’ said Cameron, his smile shifting into a stern line.

‘All good I’m sure,’ said Alastair.

‘No,’ said Cameron flatly as he took Ros’s hand and led her away.

Ros felt a mixture of flustered and elated at having matched Alastair and was pleased to see him looking bewildered when she glanced over her shoulder. Perhaps a bit of his own medicine was exactly what he needed.

Clive, the CEO, introduced himself and Cameron engaged him in talk about computational fluid dynamics. Cameron was confident, disarming and he knew his stuff. Ros had to admit she was impressed. Clive was called away by his wife to check on the spatchcock chicken.

‘These people seem nice,’ said Cameron.

‘Hmm, you don’t have to work with them.’

‘Maybe try getting to know a few on a social level? They might surprise you. Right, let’s get these drinks topped up. I’ll be back in a mo,’ he said, striding off.

Before Ros could object he’d disappeared into the crowd. Ros was very unsure about socialising. She faced these people on a daily basis and found them awkward, uncooperative and frequently inadequate. She decided she’d get some food and perhaps then they could sneak away.

She joined the queue near a gazebo and picked up a shiny porcelain plate.

‘Hi, Ros,’ said a tall woman in a flowery top.

‘Hello,’ said Ros, who had no idea who this was. ‘I’m sorry, your name escapes me.’

‘Berlinda Macey,’ she said. ‘So how long have you been with Cameron?’

Ros was slightly wrong-footed. ‘Er since . . . actually, why do you want to know?’

‘I’m just interested. I wouldn’t have put you two together.’

‘Do you know him?’ Ros was on red alert. The thought of being outed as a fake relationship here wasn’t something she’d considered but the shame of it made her cheeks heat up.

‘I was chatting to him while I got a drink. He’s a lovely guy; smart, funny and sexy – the perfect combination. He seems like a nice, kind person. I suppose it’s true what they say that opposites attract.’

Ouch, thought Ros. Should she counter this with a comic response like she had Alastair? She went for it anyway. ‘They also say those who are busy discussing someone else’s life are probably not happy about theirs.’

Berlinda gasped. ‘There’s no need to be rude. I was complimenting your boyfriend for goodness’ sake. What’s wrong with you?’ Before Ros could answer Berlinda knocked the plate from her hand and as it smashed on the patio Berlinda flounced off. All heads turned in Ros’s direction.

In a heartbeat Cameron was there picking up the pieces of the broken plate. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ If she was honest, she was a bit shaken by Berlinda, both her comments and her actions. This social interaction lark was a minefield.

Cameron stayed with her while they got some food and found somewhere to sit and eat it, which was slightly away from the masses and near a pretty flowering bush. Ros relaxed a little while they ate their food in silence. At least this barbecue food was edible.

Other people congregated on the other side of the bush and started to natter.

‘Did you see Ros chuck that plate at Berlinda?’ said one.

‘After she called her a bitch apparently. Berlinda’s in bits,’ said another.

‘Much like the plate,’ said the first one and they all laughed.

Cameron stood up and leaned over the bush. ‘Ladies.’ There were giggles and hellos when then saw him appear. ‘It was Berlinda who smashed the plate, not Ros. And nobody swore at anyone. You might want to think about who might be listening before you spread lies about people.’ Cameron sat back down and the women on the other side of the hedge were silent.

***

Darla had managed to keep her parents happy with a few phone calls. She was particularly pleased with the one where she pretended to be in Florence, Italy, for the dramatic spectacle of the Scoppio del Carro, which translated to the explosion of the cart. Darla found some suitable music to stand in for the parade, followed by a montage of fireworks. Her parents were suitably impressed, meaning Darla could relax for a few days. It hurt her that they were so proud of her travelling Europe on her own and so excited by all the experiences she claimed to be having. Perhaps one day she would be able to see all these amazing countries for real. In the meantime she had to work out how to clean out the goats without getting butted in the legs.

Darla came out of the back door to find Elliott on the other side of her hay bale wall. ‘Hiya,’ she said brightly although the sight of him did now have her on her guard. ‘How are you?’

‘Fine apart from Winston being missing again.’ He gave her a look and it took a moment for her to work out the accusation.

‘And you think I’m holding him prisoner here. Is that right?’ She folded her arms and stared him down.

‘I simply wondered if you’d seen him,’ said Elliott.

‘I saw him day before yesterday but not since.’ Darla unfolded her arms. ‘Does that mean he’s lost?’

‘Nah, he does this from time to time. He’s a farm cat so he’s outside a lot and he wanders. He’ll come back.’

‘I can help you look for him, if you like?’ Darla didn’t like the idea of Winston being away from home for too long.

‘It’s okay. If you see him, maybe give me a call?’

Darla unlocked her phone and passed it to Elliott. ‘Of course. Pop your number in my phone.’