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‘True enough.’ He reluctantly let his hand drop. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

‘Charming.’

He unlocked the shop and held the door open for her, leaning in to whisper, ‘For the record, Princess, I’ve never been prouder or more excited about anything in my life. If there was a way onto the roof here, believe me I’d be shouting it from there.’

Mia giggled. ‘Better.’

‘I mean it! I can get a ladder if you’d like. Maybe borrow a broomstick?’

‘You’re an idiot.’ She shook her head, still giggling.

‘I tell him that all the time.’ Katie came down from the flat above the shop, already carrying her bag and coat in one hand, with Mist draped over her other shoulder. ‘Maybe he’ll listen to you. He ignores me.’

‘Who said that?’ Aiden teased as Katie rolled her eyes at him. ‘Tormenting you is one of the perks of working for your better half.’

‘I could go off you,’ Katie threatened. ‘Morning, Mimi.’

‘You’ve been saying that for months. I think I’m pretty safe now.’ He grinned.

‘Honestly, you two.’ Mia laughed and gave her friend a quick hug. ‘You’re like children!’

‘He is. The kids at my school are much more mature.’ Katie poked her tongue out. ‘Speaking of which, I’m off to be responsible and teacherly.’

‘Any chance you can hang on a few minutes…?’

‘What’s wrong?’ Katie’s playful demeanour instantly dropped, along with her bag and coat.

‘Nothing,’ Mia reassured her. ‘Just… we have something we wanted to tell you. And Ophelia. Is Rayenne back yet?’

‘No.’ Katie looked at her suspiciously for a couple of seconds, before hollering up the stairs. ‘Phe! You coming down?’

‘Just a min.’

‘Right. OK.’ Katie crossed her arms and glared at Aiden. ‘What did you do?’

‘What makes you think I did something?’

‘Call it an educated guess after years of dealing with misbehaving children. You have the same look.’

‘I’m offended at how little faith you have in me.’

And yet, she’s usually right, Mist quipped before pointedly ignoring Aiden’s glare.

‘Kitikat.’ Mia resorted to the old nickname. ‘It’s a good thing, I promise.’

‘Uh-huh. Phe, hurry up would you?’ she shouted again, before glaring at Aiden some more.

‘Sorry, sorry.’ Ophelia hopped down the stairs, shoving her feet into shoes on the way. Mia winced as her friend almost missed the bottom step, then righted herself, shoving her mane of blonde curls into a messy bun. ‘OK, what’s up? What did I forget?’

‘Nothing.’ Katie had started drumming her fingers. ‘Apparently Mia and Aiden want to tell us something. I’m waiting to see what he’s done.’

Rabid rat tails. No more salmon for me.

‘Salmon?’ Ophelia stopped halfway across the shop floor and stared at the cat for a few moments, before turning her gaze to Aiden and Mia. ‘Why do I feel like I want to be congratulating you?’ she asked, her voice sounding faraway.

‘Because you’re really good and have fantastic intuition?’ Mia smiled. She’d stopped questioning the other woman’s flashes of insight long ago.

‘That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you both!’ She pulled them both into a quick, warm hug, and Aiden sighed a breath of relief. At least one of their friends was happy and excited.