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‘No,’ said Pearl, looking unconvinced ‘The probleifted and need, like, special help, and that’s just not always available in other schools …’

Caroline threw an ar with pride ‘You sound like a Stoke Newington athered everyone round

‘I can’t wait for Austin,’ she announced ‘He’s always late And thank you for all hted, and thank you sous hold the baby shower here, Issy’

Issy waved a tea towelfor you It’s taken for ever as Zac has been so overwhel down his currently liift for you’

Issy stepped forward as Helena gave her a large flat parcel Opening it up, she gasped In the familiar pretty pink pear-blossom livery of the Cupcake Café was a book that sie compiled from the scraps of paper, the letters and typed notes, the screwed-up envelopes; everything Gramps had ever sent her – well, all the ones that worked as recipes – typeset and printed guidelines to every single cake in the Cupcake Café repertoire, all with Zac’s lovely floral designs down thearound the flat,’ explained Helena helpfully, handing back the originals too

‘Oh,’ said Issy, too touched to speak ‘Oh He would have loved it And I do too’

The party continued late into the evening; Austin was late (Janet had warned her about this, when she had listed Austin’s bad points to her in what she said was a PA’s duty and Issy had felt hted mother-in-law’s little chat), and they had a lovely baby carrier for Helena that they wanted to give her together Issy had felt a co for so, ‘Is that your boy cli up there?’ she had quite enjoyed that too Anywhere she found herself arm in arm with Austin, she realized,Darny in for that tetanus booster She ht impatiently She missed him at the end of every day, and the second he left every , and she wanted to show him her beautiful book

As the ht of his tall, scruffy silhouette, and her heart jumped with love, as it always did

‘Aus!’ she shouted, rushing outside Darny shot out froed in to see Louis

‘Darling girl,’ Austin said, so her hair

‘Where were you? I need you to see so’

‘Ah, yes,’ he said ‘I’ve had some news’

He held up the carrier, which he’d clearly wrapped in the dark ‘Shall we hand over the gift first?’

‘No!’ said Issy, forgetting about her own present ‘News is news!’

The tiot up to close the shop curtains and waved at thelowed and became beautiful