Only a couple of people noticed XXX when she appeared at the door of the café. However, when she raised her voice to announce her entrance, nobody could miss her arrival. The two tables fell silent.

DTJ was in seated the middle of the long table, along with JM and AC. I was on a ‘satellite’ round table with some of the others. Anxious glances shot across the room.

Where would XXX ‘land’? Although there was no real space at either our tables, those on the bench at the longer one could shuffle up to accommodate her. Wherever she ended up, this was going to be extremely embarrassing.