Jelly Baby. Jean Ure

designer man?”

      “One that makes these really expensive shoes?” Not being into fashion I couldn’t immediately think what his name was, but Cass had been well impressed. “Must have cost a fortune,” she’d said.

      “Sounds a bit posh for your dad,” said Lottie.

      “She’s not posh,” I said. “Just super-cool!”

      “H’m.” Lottie hooked her arm through mine as we wandered back into school at the end of break. “You know what’d be really neat? If your dad could marry my auntie!”

      She’d said that before. I never quite liked to tell her that it wouldn’t work.

      “My auntie’s cool,” urged Lottie.

      “Yes,” I said, “I know.”

      Lottie’s auntie is very small and fluffy and dresses like a teenager. She looks like a teenager. She is into dancing and karaoke, and going down the pub, which wouldn’t suit Dad at all. He is very much a stay-at-home-with-his-books sort of person. I don’t think Lottie’s aunties ever read books. Polly read loads! She and Dad were always lending books to each other and having these long discussions. Now he would be doing it with Caroline. At least, I supposed he would. I didn’t know what Dad and Caroline talked about when they were alone together.