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* * *

Angela hopped, stepped and struggled with her crutches to manoeuvre herself around the chairs and into the seat next to her friend in the village pub. She fumbled with the crutches, muttering under her breath as she nearly toppled over, already regretting agreeing to meet her friend there — but Evelyn had been insistent.

‘Here . . .’ Evelyn jumped up and pulled the chair out for her.

‘Thanks.’ She handed over the crutches and groaned as she lowered herself into her seat. ‘You think I’d be used to them by now.’

‘You had a serious, complex break. And major surgery to fix it. You have to expect to be a bit wobbly for a while. You and your mum both need to take time to focus on recovering. I hear she’s doing better at that than you,’ Evelyn chided gently.

‘Yeah, she’s having a great time with my aunt. Bit of seaside air and TLC was just what the doctor ordered.’ Angela glossed over the fact that she wasn’t getting anywhere near as much rest, and hoped her friend would let it slide.

Not a chance. ‘Well, that’s great for Cathy. But I’d bet good money on the fact you’re not resting as much as you should.’

‘Please don’t nag me,’ Angela complained. ‘It’s been over a month, and I rested properly for the first week or two. But I’m fed up of having to rely on other people to help me at the sanctuary. I think I’ve burned through every favour I’ve ever had these last few weeks.’

‘That’s not true.’ Evelyn sat down next to her and gave her hand a quick squeeze. ‘You know that’s not how most people round here think, and the Girl Scouts have loved helping out with all the animals. My daughter’s birthday list is pretty much made up of houses for hedgehogs, squirrels and birds. Between your influence and my fiancé’s, I think she’s planning on curating her own zoo before she’s much older.’

‘I probably should apologise for that, but encouraging your Summer is good fun.’ Angela laughed. ‘Besides, our wildlife needs all the help it can get.’

‘Funny you should say that.’ Evelyn pulled out a folder from her bag. ‘This isn’t exactly a social get together. I’m not really here as a friend, or even checking up on you as your community nurse—I’m more here in an official council member capacity.’

‘Why does that suddenly make me feel uneasy?’

‘It shouldn’t. It’s a good thing, really, or at least I think it could be.’ She slid the paperwork across the table towards Angela.

‘What’s Community Payback?’

‘What they used to call community service.’

‘What, you mean kids on ASBOs and stuff?’ Angela shook her head. The last thing she needed was to be babysitting some mini-vandals and grumpy teens.

‘Yes, but also, as it turns out, drunk drivers who crash into cafés.’ Her friend had the sense to avoid Angela’s gaze.

‘You’re kidding.’ Angela shoved the paperwork right back. ‘There’s no way in H-E-double-hockey-sticks that I’m letting the person who did this anywhere near me or my animals.’

‘Do you really have a choice?’ Evelyn gingerly slid the folder back. ‘Ange, you said yourself you need more help. And the court decided that the best place for the perpetrator to carry out payback is in the community most deserving. Specifically, Broclington. The probation service contacted the village council, and we thought it could, well . . . not kill two birds with one stone, because you’re a rescue centre, but you get the idea.’

‘It’s a terrible idea.’ Angela shook her head firmly and crossed her arms across her chest.

‘He’ll be supervised with regular visits from a probation officer. And you know our local policing team will keep an eye on things too. You need the help.’

‘And you think that’s what he’ll be, do you? Help? What qualifications does he have?’

‘Honestly, I don’t know much about him,’ Evelyn admitted. ‘He’s some sort of social media star.’

‘What does that even mean?’

‘I don’t really know.’ Evelyn shrugged. ‘But the good news is the courts haven’t put any restrictions or warnings on him—apart from the driving ban. Besides, if Girl Scouts can help you with lifting and carrying and cleaning, I’m sure a fully grown man can find a way to be of use.’

Angela was far from convinced.

* * *

The lights seemed to pulse in time with the thumping beat of the music vibrating through him. He necked more Bolly, straight from the bottle. He snaked his spare arm around Yvette’s tiny waist, and dragged her hard against his hips. She moaned and ground against him for a few beats before laughing and flipping her hair. As one song blended into the next, she whipped out her phone and pouted and posed, pulling his face against hers.

‘We are the hottest people here, babe.’ She flicked through half a dozen photos before settling on the one she liked best, then uploaded it to her feed — tagging him and the club — all without missing a beat or move.

‘Of course we are.’ He twisted her around in a showy spin, fully aware there were several phones pointing in their direction from people — mostly girls — who’d likely shivered in the line outside for over an hour for this exact chance: to be on a dance floor with a celeb. It didn’t matter that his stardom shone from the handheld screens of phones or tablets rather than the old, big, silver screen — they still loved him.