I watch in total disbelief as Jack settles comfortably down on the rug. He was supposed to be rescuing me from all this. Not joining in. Slowly I sink down beside him.

“So, you work for this company, Jack?” says Dad, pouring him a glass of wine.

“In a way,” says Jack after a pause. “You could say… I used to.”

“Are you between jobs?” says Mum tactfully.

“You could put it like that, I guess.” His face crinkles in a little smile.

“Oh dear!” says Mum sympathetically. “What a shame. Still, I’m sure something will come up.”

Oh God. She has absolutely no idea who he is. None of my family has any idea who Jack is.

“So, Jack,” she says sympathetically as she hands him a paper plate. “Are you getting by financially?”

“I’m doing OK,” Jack replies gravely.

Mum looks at him for a moment. Then she rummages in the picnic basket and produces another Sainsbury’s quiche, still in its box.

“Take this,” she says, pressing it on him. “And some tomatoes. They’ll tide you over.”

“Oh no,” says Jack at once. “Really, I couldn’t–”

“I won’t take no for an answer. I insist!”

“Well, that’s truly kind.” Jack gives her a warm smile.

“You want some free career advice, Jack?” says Kerry, munching a piece of chicken.

My heart gives a nervous flip. Please, please don’t try to get Jack to do the successful woman walk.

“Now, you want to listen to Kerry,” puts in Dad proudly. “She’s our star! She has her own company.”

“Is that so?” says Jack politely.

“My own travel agency,” says Kerry with a complacent smile. “Started from scratch. Now we have forty staff and a turnover of just over two million. And you know what my secret is?”

“I… have no idea,” says Jack.

Kerry leans forward and fixes him with her blue eyes.

“Golf.”

“Golf!” echoes Jack.

“Business is all about networking,” says Kerry. “It’s all about contacts. I’m telling you, Jack, I’ve met most of the top businesspeople in the country on the golf course. Take any company. Take this company.” She spreads her arm around the scene. “I know the top guy here. I could call him up tomorrow if I wanted to.”

I stare at her, frozen in horror.

“Really?” says Jack, sounding riveted. “Is that so?”

“Oh yes.” She leans forward confidentially. “And I mean, the top guy.”

“The top guy,” echoes Jack. “I’m impressed.”

“Perhaps Kerry could put in a good word for you, Jack!” exclaims Mum in sudden inspiration.

“You’d do that, wouldn’t you, Kerry love?”

I would burst into hysterical laughter. If it wasn’t so completely and utterly hideous.

“I guess I’ll have to take up golf without delay,” says Jack. “Meet the right people.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “What do you think, Emma?”

I can barely talk. I am beyond embarrassment. I just want to disappear into the rug and never be seen again.

“Mr Harper?” A voice interrupts and I breathe in relief. We all look up to see Cyril bending awkwardly down to Jack.

“I’m extremely sorry to interrupt, sir,” he says, glancing puzzledly around at my family as though trying to discern any reason at all why Jack Harper might be having a picnic with us.

“But Malcolm St John is here and would like a very brief word.”

“Of course,” says Jack, and smiles politely at Mum. “If you could just excuse me a moment.”

As he carefully balances his glass on his plate and gets to his feet, the whole family exchanges confused glances.

“Giving him a second chance, then!” calls out Dad jocularly to Cyril.

“I’m sorry?” says Cyril, taking a couple of steps towards us.

“That chap Jack,” says Dad, gesturing to Jack, who’s talking to a guy dressed in a navy blazer.

“You’re thinking of taking him on again, are you?”

Cyril looks stiffly from Dad to me and back again.

“It’s OK, Cyril!” I call lightly. “Dad, shut up, OK?” I mutter. “He owns the company.”

“What?” Everyone stares at me.

“Are you saying that guy is Jack Harper?” says Nev in disbelief.

“Yes!”

There’s a flabbergasted silence. As I look around, I see that a piece of chicken drumstick has fallen out of Kerry’s mouth.

“So how the hell do you know Jack Harper?” says Nev.

“I… I just know him,” I colour slightly. “We’ve worked together and stuff, and he’s kind of become a… a friend.” I say quickly, as Jack shakes the hand of the blazer guy, and starts coming back towards the picnic rug. “Just act the way you were before…”

Oh God. Why am I even bothering? As Jack approaches, my entire family is sitting bolt upright, staring at him in awe-struck silence.

“Jack!” exclaims Kerry, who has regained her composure. She gives him an ingratiating smile and thrusts out her hand. “Good to meet you properly.”

“Absolutely!” says Jack. “Although… didn’t we just meet?”

“As professionals,” says Kerry smoothly. “One business-owner to another. Here’s my card, and if you ever need any help with travel arrangements of any sort, please give me a call. Or if you wanted to meet up socially… perhaps the four of us could go out some time! Play a round? Couldn’t we, Emma?”