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‘I’m thinking about not going,’ Evelyn admitted.

‘Mum, you have to!’ Summer was outraged. ‘You told Jake you would, and that was like a promise. And you always tell me I have to keep my promises.’

‘I do tell you that,’ Evelyn agreed reluctantly.

‘And Jake will be sad if you don’t go. And that isn’t fair.’

Evelyn turned to study her daughter. ‘You really like Jake, don’t you?’

‘Yup. And so does Tilly, don’t you?’ As if she’d been listening, Tilly yipped in response.

Evelyn sat on the bed next to Summer. ‘Do you understand what tonight means?’

‘I think so.’ Summer nodded seriously, once again looking far older than her years.

‘Can you tell me?’ Evelyn needed to know for sure.

‘It’s a date. Because you and Jake like each other and want to see if you want to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Which is like holding hands and kissing and sometimes spending lots of time together and having adult sleepovers. Without kids.’ She petted Tilly’s head. ‘Or dogs.’

‘How do you know all this?’

‘Some of my new friends have mummies and daddies who don’t live together and have girlfriends and boyfriends instead. One girl has two mummies. That’s interesting, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Evelyn smiled. ‘I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but would you be OK if Jake wanted to be my boyfriend?’

‘I think so.’ Summer chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. ‘Charlie isn’t ever going to move in with us and Nanny, is he?’

Evelyn pulled Summer against her in a hug. They’d talked about this before, but it didn’t make it any easier. ‘No, darling, I don’t think he is.’

‘Then I think you should see if you want to be boyfriend and girlfriend with Jake. He’s nice, and he makes you smile. And I like him better than Charlie’s girlfriend.’

‘Yeah, I like him better than her too.’

‘Can I help you pick pretty clothes?’

Evelyn gave her daughter a tight squeeze and kissed her on the head. ‘You know what? I think I could really use some help.’

‘Awesome!’ Summer leaped off the bed and started pulling open drawers.

Evelyn almost jumped out of her skin when the doorbell rang. Summer dropped the hairbrush she’d been “helping” with, and raced out of the room. Tilly peered at her quizzically from the bed.

‘Oh, go on then.’ Evelyn shook her head as the dog raced out of the room and down the stairs to greet her new buddy as well, yipping excitedly before she even reached him. It seemed everyone was excited to see Jake. Her stomach fluttered as she peered into the mirror and smoothed her hair flat. If she was honest, she was excited too, but the nerves were so bad that her fingers shook slightly.

It had been well over a decade since she’d gone on a first date, and it wasn’t something she’d ever planned on doing again. She took a deep breath, hooked her bag over her shoulder, and grabbed her jacket off the bed. She gave herself a final once over in the mirror, wondering again if tightly fitting jeans and V-neck jumper over a silky camisole was a bit much.

But Jake was already downstairs waiting for her, and that meant he was alone with Summer and her mum, who would no doubt be being their overenthusiastic selves. If she didn’t get a handle on her nerves and go down soon, Jake would probably have been stuffed with fresh apple cinnamon muffins and co-opted into Summer’s latest game. There was nothing for it. She needed to metaphorically put on her big girl panties, act her age, and go greet her date for the evening.

Date. The word sent a chill of anticipation over her skin, and she smiled at herself in the mirror. With her hair in soft waves over her shoulders and fully made-up, she didn’t look bad. And her mum was thrilled to be having a “Super Awesome Nanny and Summer and Tilly” night in, and the two of them had been excitedly planning and baking half of the day.

Maybe she could relax, and enjoy herself tonight. In fact, she probably needed to. If one of her patients had been through the types of stress she had recently, Evelyn would have been the first to remind them about self-care, and how they needed to take time for themselves. That decided, she straightened her shoulders and headed down the stairs.

She paused outside the living room door, and ran her fingers through her hair again as Jake’s deep voice and laughter echoed through the wood. She pushed the door open quietly, curious to see what they were all up to. Her heart filled with warmth as she watched Tilly dance in a circle at Summer’s command, shamelessly showing off for their guest, who sat on the pouffe, laughing as he doled out treats and praise.

‘Hi.’ Evelyn stood at the door, suddenly feeling shy.

‘Hey.’ Jake grinned up at her, and struggled to his feet, hampered by Tilly and Summer who were still crowding him. He stepped towards her, then hesitated as if not sure of what to do or say next. For a horrible moment, Evelyn wondered if he’d changed his mind and was regretting asking her out.

Summer tugged on Jake’s hand. ‘I think Mum looks really pretty, don’t you?’