"Brittany," Joe greeted the willowy blonde, pecking her on the cheek. "Nice to see you again. And…" He had forgotten Brittany's friend's name.

"Martha."

"Lovely." He pecked her as well. "Won't you come through to the lounge?"

He led them into the lounge where Rebecca was sitting.

"This is my wife, Becca," he introduced.

"Who are you?" Rebecca asked the girls bluntly.

"Brittany and Martha. I told you they were coming?"

"Oh, yes." Rebecca frowned. Brittany and her friend exchanged mocking looks.

"Jean," Joe called over his shoulder. His cousin emerged, smiling from girl to girl. "This is my cuz. Jeanie, will you give Brittany and Martha a quick tour? The place has changed since they were last here."

"Of course, sir," said Jean sarcastically. "This way."

"Are you OK?" Joe asked once they were out of earshot, perching himself on the edge of the sofa next to Rebecca.

"Yeah. I just forgot they were coming."

"It's just business. Brittany has connections."

"How did you meet her again?"

"At a club in Leeds."

"Did you…"

Joe looked uncomfortable. "Well, yes. Just the once. It didn't mean anything thing though."

"Will any more of your exes be turning up?"

"Of course not. Well… Debbie maybe," he added hastily. "She is my brother's sister."

"And you think that makes it less weird?"

"Hey, come on." He reached out to stroke her face. "You know you're the only woman I've ever really been in love with. I'm not jealous of Robert, or Ross…"

"You hate both of them."

"OK, fair point. But you don't have to worry about some cheap tart—" Joe looked over his shoulder as Jean came back in with the two girls. "Can I get you some drinks, ladies?"

"Champagne would be lovely." Joe raised an eyebrow at Rebecca as he went to fetch the drinks, beckoning Jean to follow.

"So, have you and Joe been married long?" asked Brittany.

"Couple of years."

"You really landed on your feet." Brittany looked around the extravagant room.

"Well, I used to live here with my family, before Joe moved in."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, we were going to emigrate but then…" Rebecca broke off.

"I heard," said Brittany sympathetically. "Is it true that the crash made you…" She made the 'insane' gesture.

"I have memory problems since the crash, yes."

"Wow," said Martha. "So you and Joe are like, 50 First Dates?"

"I haven't seen that movie. Or if I have I've forgotten, haha!"

"So did you know Joe before the crash?"

"No. I met him when I broke in thinking I still lived here. Then I came back and attacked him with a golf club, and he reported me to the police. But that was just to get back at the father of my child, who was married to my sister but left her for another man."

"Save something for the over-drinks conversation, Bex," said Joe easily, approaching with a tray full of drinks. "Champagne all round." He handed out the glasses.