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The lights eventually dimmed, and a hush of anticipation swept through the theatre as the curtain lifted and the first performers appeared. Her mum’s face lit up with delight. Frances felt a small thrill at seeing her become so absorbed in something, even humming along quietly at times.

But Frances’s attention kept drifting to Lucie, her heart fluttering with longing. What would it feel like to kiss her? How would she taste? It had been too long since she’d been intimate with anyone, and Lucie had opened a door to feelings she thought dead and buried. She wasn’t sure she could bear for them to fade again.

When the curtain dropped for the interval, Frances checked her watch. The time had flown by, and she wasn’t entirely sure it was because of the show, which she’d barely taken in. On their return from the toilets, a woman’s voice called out.

“Frances? Rose?”

Frances’s heart sank as she turned and saw the Maidments, old family friends, approaching. Of course they would meet someone they knew. Whether her mum would remember them was another question. Frances considered pretending not to have heard, but it was too late.

“Good evening,” Mrs Maidment said warmly.

“Evening,” Frances replied, forcing a smile at her and her husband.

“I’m Rose,” her mum said brightly, offering her hand as if they were complete strangers.

A brief flicker passed between the couple, the sort so small most people would miss it, but Frances felt every bit of it.

“I’m Michael, and this is my wife, Liz,” the man said as they shook hands.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” her mum replied.

Frances let out a breath, looking at them gratefully. “It’s good to see you,” she said, hoping the warmth in her voice covered the tension in her body. “This is Lucie, a friend of ours.”

Liz dipped her head and then gestured to the auditorium doors. “What do you all think of the performance?”

“It’s wonderful. The music is lovely,” her mum said.

Frances and Lucie both nodded.

“I used to work in the theatre, you know,” she added.

Liz’s eyebrows lifted briefly, and she nodded as though hearing it for the first time. “Really? How interesting.”

“Well, we must get to the bar,” Michael interjected politely. “Our son will wonder where we’ve got to. It was nice to see you all.”

They exchanged smiles, and the Maidments drifted back into the crowd. Only then did Frances feel her shoulders drop. She turned to Lucie, who was already watching her, offering a small, reassuring smile. It struck her, with mild surprise, that she didn’t feel the embarrassment she might once have expected in a moment like that. She just felt relieved that it had slipped past without too much awkwardness.

Her mum leaned closer as they neared the auditorium doors.

“Have we met them before?” she whispered.

“We might have. A long time ago.”

Frances glanced back at Lucie, who gave her another smile as they made their way back to their box.

Once the performance ended, Frances hailed a taxi, and fifteen minutes later they pulled up outside the house.

“I need the loo,” her mum said suddenly, distress lacing her voice.

“You go ahead. I’ll sort this,” Lucie said.

“Thanks,” Frances replied, already helping her mum out and hurrying her towards the front door. It hadn’t crossed her mind to ask her before they left, having been so focused on getting her out before the crowds overwhelmed her.

“Oh, Frances,” her mum said, nearing hysterics on the pavement. “It’s too late.”

Her stomach dropped as she fumbled frantically with the key in the lock.

“It’s fine, Mum. We’ll get you cleaned up and into bed.”