It was only after telling Miranda and Eric that they were all invited to dinner that Rona thought she'd better ring up Hannah to double-check that.

"Yeah!" Hannah said. "Of course you're all invited! That's what I meant. Come one, come all."

"Good" Rona said. "I thought so. I just -"

"You like to make sure of things these days" Hannah said.

"I guess so."

"You're becoming more like Sacha" Hannah warned her.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Well . . ." Hannah tried to be diplomatic. "Listen, you know I love her, she's great, but one in the world is enough."

"That bad, huh."

"She's been a bit bitchy recently."

"Hannah!"

"You know I don't use that word lightly" Hannah said.

"I'm pretty sure I know the opposite, actually." Rona paused to take in what Hannah had said. "Listen, if it's causing trouble we can do something different. I could come some other time. Or you could come over here!"

"Fuck no" Hannah said; almost shouted. "If there's one thing you don't do it's take back an invitation. Ever."

"Is that something your mother taught you?" Rona asked teasingly.

"It is, actually."

"How is she?"

"I'm sure she's fine."

"Right." Rona wanted to ask Hannah if there was one relationship in her life that didn't go through such extreme turbulence. She'd wanted to ask her that many times in the past. But as with every other time she decided that discretion was the better part of valour. "How's Shelly?" she asked hopefully.

"Taking my side" Hannah said, as if that was an answer. "So that's nice."

"Good to have someone supportive."

"Good to have someone, full-stop" Hannah said, and unlike Rona she didn't wonder at the tact of what she was saying.