I was pushing a trolley around the local grocery store, stocking up on beer and pizza for Charlie's arrival, when I came face to face with Juliet. She was holding a birthday card in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. "Hi there, is it somebodies birthday?" I asked, gesturing towards the card.

"Didn't Iris tell you?" She said, looking puzzled. I shook my head. "Well, I know she doesn't feel like celebrating, but it's her birthday today. I thought I'd at least mark it with a card, you know, let her know we're all thinking about her."

"Quite right," I asserted, vowing to find her a nice card and gift myself.

"Do you need any help?" Juliet asked, her eyes raking over my trolley, which contained only booze and junk food.

"My brothers coming tomorrow, so I get to forget about healthy eating for a few days. It'll be beer and pizza on the menu," I told her. Juliet laughed.

"Going feral then? Just let us know if you want us to lay on a barbecue or a party," she said, "I take it you'll be introducing him?"

"Could hardly keep all you beautiful girls a secret could I?" I teased.

"You mean your personal harem?" Juliet said, giggling.

"Quite." I paused. "He's a married man though, so he won't be available." The last thing I wanted was for Charlie to go off the rails with all the temptation in San Vinco.

"We don't play with married men," Juliet said coolly, "there's enough single men in the world."

I felt strangely relieved. For all their bohemian lifestyle, the girls still lived by an honour code. It struck me at that moment that my whereabouts hadn't been leaked, no photographers had shown up and no mentions of me being in San Vinco had appeared on social media. My harem had been guarding my privacy well.

Juliet helped me with the remainder of my shopping, wrinkling her nose at the bags of potato chips I piled into my trolley. She insisted I include some fresh fruit, in case Charlie and I got sick of processed junk (which I thought was unlikely). I also chose a nice card for Iris and, after dumping my groceries in the car, we went in search of a gift.

San Vinco didn't have a lot of shops, but tucked into a little courtyard off the Main Street, we found a tiny gift store, mainly aimed at tourists. Amongst the shell art and painted ceramics, I found a small silver ankle bracelet, made of tiny heart-shaped bells. As I turned it over in my hands, Juliet looked over my shoulder. "That's cute, she'd love it."

"It's only 30 bucks, seems a bit mean for a birthday gift," I said. I was mindful of the man that Iris had lost, who had been richer than Croesus. I doubted he'd have bought her a cheap anklet. For the first time since arriving in San Vinco, I wished that I at least had my PA around to send out for something more suitable.

"Iris isn't materialistic, you need to understand that about her," Juliet said gently. "If she was, then she'd have gone for Howie."

"Yes, but.." I began. Juliet cut me off.

"You can't compete with a ghost Henry."

Her words silenced me. She'd understood straightaway. "You're very perceptive," I said eventually.

"I try," she replied, smiling at my frown. "Now, you're gonna need a gift box for that anklet."