They don't see anything out of the ordinary thankfully

“Ah here she is” calls her mum as she spots Felicity walking towards them. “And Audrey as well” she adds in delight.

“Yes, I bumped into your daughter being bored to death by some people outside, so I thought I’d save her and get her back safely.” The lie slips so easily from Mrs Hendry’s lips that Felicity again wonders if her mum has any real idea about what one of her best friends gets up to in private.

“Anyone interesting?” her mum enquires as Felicity and Mrs Hendry slot into the spaces created in the circle, and Felicity just shakes her head, unsure she can lie as casually as Mrs Hendry and it not show on her face.

Very soon the conversation returns to business, so it’s a relief when finally her dad suggests they should probably be heading off.

“Let me get your coats” Mrs Hendry suggests as she pulls out her own cloakroom ticket, “Felicity can help me can’t you dear.”

“Sure, yeah” Felicity agrees, only really half aware of what she’s agreeing to do. Her parents hand over their tickets and suddenly Felicity finds herself being lead away yet again.

“I was hoping we might bump into that lovely Nicole” Mrs Hendry whispers as they head towards the cloakroom, “then I can give her my number, and well, you know…” she tells Felicity, who can only smile knowing just what this older woman is inferring.

“So what about you Felicity?” she continues, “how long have you known our Anthony then?”

“Only tonight” Felicity admits, feeling strangely embarrassed to admit she did all that having only known the man for such a short time.

“Well, he is something isn’t he, you should enjoy yourself, let him treat you and have lots of fun with you. I assume you’ll be seeing him again?”

“Oh my God yes, I hope so” Felicity is quick to reply, not caring if she sounds eager, especially as Mrs Hendry has literally just told her to do it.

“Good good, maybe I’ll see you at one of my parties some time?” Felicity is about to enquiry what parties, but already they are at the cloakroom. She spots Nicole collecting some coats, and as she turns, it’s obvious she spots Felicity and Mrs Hendry as well, as her smile broadens across her face.

Nicole comes over to them as soon as she hands the previous coats to their owners, taking their tickets as she tries to act normal. She gives the tickets a strange little look, before realising that the extra one is Mrs Hendry’s phone number and not a ticket, quickly slipping it into her pocket before she looks for their coats.

“Call me darling” Mrs Hendry whispers to her as she hands their coats over, “I’d love to experience that clever little tongue again.”

“Thank you, I will” Nicole quietly responds, glancing shyly around to check none of her colleagues heard. There’s no chance for more as more people appear to collect coats, but even as Felicity and Mrs Hendry turn to leave, she gives them a final little wave.

“I’d love to have you two girls together again” Mrs Hendry tells Felicity even as they head out to the carpark to meet their respective families. “I may have to speak to Anthony about borrowing you from him sometime” are her departing words as they head in different directions for their drives home.