She looked terrible; she was obviously the worse for drink and looked like she had not slept. Despite this she was dressed impeccably. As I walked over I saw the main door open again and Tina and Katie, my younger daughter, walked in.

She turned to face them and seeing Katie seemed to make her smile before she looked broken and sad again. Katie was none the wiser and whilst we were all talking asked Andy if she would play a game with her.

To my surprise the statuesque art agent grinned and folded herself to a sitting position on the hard wood floor as Katie told her how to play the new computer game she had with her.

Tina looked on and smiled as she saw how easily our new acquaintance had earned our young daughters trust, she was usually a reserved child unlike her older sister but something about Andy had appealed to her and now they were sat on the floor like two kids at school.

I wondered whether I should try and resume my meeting but Tina was telling me how she had been called into the children’s and really couldn’t have Katie with her for the rest of the day. The others were all busy and Angie was of to have her first repayment lunch with Rachel.

“I could look after her for the afternoon if that would be ok with the two of you and Katie of course.”

I was shocked but before we could ask if Andy was serious Katie had screeched her approval and was asking what they would spend the rest of the day doing.

She informed me that she had seen what she needed of the gallery and that she wanted to come to a show opening I was having Thursday but after that she would be recommending my gallery to her client’s then we could negotiate contract terms.

So on agreeing that Katie would stay with Andy we gave our contact numbers to her and asked for her and requested she have Katie home no later than seven. With that I watched as they left.

Tina left soon after but I could tell that she was just as shocked that Kate had gone off with a stranger as I was.