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‘Are you going to wear that for your ?’

‘I have a business now I have to look the part’

‘But that’s not your part You’re a baker now, a professional, not so Facebook every five minutes’

‘That’s not what my old job was, actually’

‘Yeah, well, whatever’

Helena reached into her cupboard and pulled out a lightly sprigged dress and a pastel cardigan

‘Here, try these on’

Issy looked down Her head felt too full to concentrate

‘You don’t think it’s a bit … twee?’

‘Darling, you’re running a cupcake bakery I think you have to make your peace with twee And anyway, no I don’t I think it looks pretty and approachable and it suits you, which is more than you can say for porno-secretary’

‘This suit isn’t …’

Actually, thought Issy, glancing in the et rid of this suit Dump that stupid office once and for all And that stupid hts away froed

In the new outfit, she did look nicer – younger and fresher It o,’ said Helena ‘Now you look the part’

Issy glanced at Helena, earing a deep green square-cut-neckline ruched top

‘What part are you dressing for?’

Helena pouted ‘Flaoddess, of course As usual You know that’

Issy was nervous going to the bank, extremely so She’d explained this was just a preliminary chat and they’d said fine, but still it felt a bit like having to go in and explain away her overdraft, just as she had done in college Graeme liked to check his statements every reed with She didn’t feel like doing that very often

‘Ue-carpeted hush of the bank It s products and money At that rey pinstripe

‘Can I speak to Mr …’ she checked her notes, ‘Mr Tyler’

The young girl behind the desk smiled distractedly and leaned forward into her telephone, buzzing her through Being on the other side of the security barrier was a little disconcerting; open-plan desks were scattered around, with people peering at colanced about her, just in case there was any gold visible

She didn’t see anyone who looked like a Mr Tyler, so she sat down nervously, picking up and replacing aher fingers fiddle with the pages and hoping she wouldn’t have too long to wait

Austin Tyler sat in the head teacher’s office, feeling like he was in sorave; vu It was exactly the sa his scuffed Start Rite shoes against the chair when he was getting told off for running through the bushes, or fighting with Duncan MacGuire There was a new head woman, who said, ‘Call me Kirsty,’ when he’d much rather call her Miss Dubose, and perched on the front of her desk instead of sitting imperiously behind it like Mr Stroan used to do Austin, frankly, preferred the old way; at least you knehere you stood He glanced sideways at Darny and sighed Darny was staring at the floor crossly, with a glint in his eye that said whatever was co At ten years old, Darny was smart, deter hihts

‘What is it this tiain, he knew it He ran a hand through the thick, unruly reddish-brown hair that was flopping over his forehead Time for another haircut too, he noticed As if he could possibly find the time