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‘What do you mean?’

Valentina rolled her eyes. ‘Do you seriously think being pregnant has triggered my gullible switch? You’ve not just suddenly thought you could do with some new clothes. I’ve been telling you that for years!’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘I know fine well what you’re up to.’

‘You do?’ Frankie had a moment of panic. How on earth did Valentina know she was meeting Jay? ‘It’s no big deal,’ Frankie said as airily as she could.

Valentina gave Frankie an incredulous look.

‘Dating Ben is a big deal! And clearly you feel the same as you want to wear something fantastic to impress him with.’

‘Ben?’

Valentina drummed her fingers on the top of her bump.

‘Do you seriously think you can wander around the village with a good-looking new man and nobody’s going to notice? And you’re seeing him again tonight? You must both be keen!’

Frankie’s guts twisted uncomfortably at what Valentina’s reaction would be, but she had to confess. ‘It’s not actually Ben I’m meeting tonight.’

Valentina’s blue eyes widened considerably. She sat on the bed.

‘You’ve got a date with another man? Oh my goodness. Years of inactivity and then – boom! – the floodgates are open!’

‘There are no floodgates. There is no boom. And it hasn’t been that long! Tonight isn’t even a date. Just dinner.’

‘Who with?’

‘Jay.’

Valentina’s mouth fell open. ‘Costello?’

‘Yeah, but I’m worried what Rocco will say.’ That was only the start of it.

Valentina looked thoughtful as she smoothed a hand over a lacy white smock top decorated with exquisitely embroidered roses.

‘Jay probably wants to speak to me first to see how things are with Rocco,’ Frankie said. That’s what she’d been telling herself all day, any time she felt the slightest glimmer of excitement at the thought of seeing Jay. She was not a teenager with her first crush anymore.

‘Hmm.’

‘I’m the soft touch.’ Frankie gave a little self-deprecating laugh.

‘Don’t say that,’ Valentina said firmly.

‘Do you think it’s a bad idea to meet Jay?’

‘You and Jay were friends too,’ Valentina said softly. ‘In fact, I remember Mum saying you were closer to Jay than Rocco was that last summer.’ Valentina stood up. ‘Maybe we all need to stop pussyfooting around Rocco’s feelings as much. Especially as we don’t know exactly what happened. Come on, let’s get your clothes sorted.’

Despite Valentina’s desire for Frankie to wear the cream trousers, Frankie opted for a similar pair in black, matching them with a square-necked scarlet top, both from Hobbs, and although still pricier than anything else Frankie owned, wearing them wouldn’t make her a nervous wreck every time she lifted a forkful of food to her mouth.

‘Tuck the top into the trousers to properly show off your curves. Put on that belt. And you’ll need this.’ Valentina dangled a dinky half-moon handbag on her index finger. ‘Unless you want to take your waterproof crossbody bag that smells of pigs’ ears and scented poo bags and has little bits of powdery kibble rattling around the bottom.’

Frankie didn’t. She accepted the bag with grace.

‘And those shoes.’ Valentina pointed to a lovely pair of black-patent, pointy-toed sling-backs.

‘Thank you.’

‘When are you meeting him?’

‘He’s made a reservation for eight.’