“I wasn’t sure what to wear,” Grace told Isla as she arrived on Saturday morning for Tilda’s video rehearsal. “So I’ve brought a few other outfit options with me.”

Isla looked at the small wheeled suitcase on the doorstep beside Grace. “A few?” she said.

Grace turned pink. “Too much?”

“I don’t think Tilda needs you to wear anything special,” Isla said.

“I didn’t want to let her down,” Grace said, following Isla into the conservatory. “I know how important this is to her.”

Isla tried to smother a smile. Tilda’s film seemed to be more important to Grace than Tilda – which was saying something.

“Will you help me make posters for a lost cat we found later?” Isla asked.

“Sure,” Grace said, glancing around the room. “Where is he?”

“He’s at Abbey Park Vets,” Isla said. “Lucy kept him in overnight – I’m worried there’s something really wrong with him.”

“He’ll be fine,” Mum called from the kitchen, overhearing their conversation.

“I hope so,” Isla replied. “Have you heard from Lucy yet?”

Mum popped her head round the door to the conservatory. “Not yet. Lucy’s running some tests – she thinks he might have eaten something he shouldn’t have. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

“Then he can come back here?” Isla asked, checking that Mum hadn’t changed her mind.

“Yes, Isla. But it’s only temporary, until we decide what’s best for him,” Mum said.

Tigger ran past Isla and she bent down to pick him up. “We’ve chosen a name for the ginger cat,” she told her friend. “Grace, meet Tigger. Tigger, this is Grace.”

Grace tickled Tigger under the chin and he started purring. “He likes you!” Isla giggled.

“He’s lovely,” Grace said. “But not as lovely as my beautiful Lady Mewington.”

“Great, you’re here,” said Tilda, appearing by Mum’s side. “Everything’s set up if you’re ready to start?” she said, handing Grace a piece of paper.

“What’s this?” asked Grace.

“It’s your script,” Tilda said. “There’s a few lines and a couple of directions. I can’t be the camerawoman and the one doing tricks with Poppy, so that’s where you come in.”

Grace looked at the piece of paper. “You didn’t say there were lines!” she said. “I haven’t had time to practise. What if I get it wrong?”

“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Tilda said. “Anyway, the focus will be on Poppy – she’s the star.”

Grace looked down at Poppy, who gave a little meow and raised her paw in the air as though she were waving.

“Oh, that’s perfect!” Tilda said, pointing her camera at Poppy. “Poppy, do that again.”

Poppy immediately turned her back on Tilda and started licking her tail.

“I thought I was the star?” Grace sputtered.

Tilda and Isla exchanged looks. “You are the human star,” Isla told her, giving Grace a hug as Tilda mouthed thank you behind Grace’s back.

“Can we get started?” said Tilda. “We haven’t got much time before Poppy’s Place opens.”

Grace quickly scanned the piece of paper, then gave it to Isla and took her position beside Poppy, who was still licking her tail.

“We’ll start with the easier tricks first,” Tilda said. “Hold your hand up to Poppy and let her give you a high-five. Ready?”

Grace nodded.

“Action!” Tilda called as she started filming.

“Wait!” Grace cried. “I haven’t done my voice warm-ups.”

She started making a buzzing noise, blowing air through her closed lips. Then she shook out her arms and legs and started jumping up and down.

“What’s she doing?” Tilda hissed at Isla.

“I… I’m not sure,” Isla said.

Poppy padded over to the cat flap and gently butted her head against it to get out, but Tilda had locked it. She looked at Isla and gave a meow.

“You can go outside soon,” Isla promised, giving her a sympathetic look.

Poppy gave another meow and wandered off into the kitchen. Tilda chased after her and brought her back but as soon as she put her down, Poppy ran off again.

“Poppy!” Tilda cried.

“I’m not sure Poppy wants to be in your film as much as Grace does,” Isla giggled.

“Oh, maybe I could dress up like a cat and we could pretend that I’m Poppy?” Grace suggested, opening her suitcase.

“You have a cat costume in there?” Isla asked, bewildered.

Tilda pulled Isla aside so that Grace couldn’t hear. “This is a disaster!” she hissed. “How am I going to get the shots I need with one actor who’s a diva and another who won’t perform!” She shook her head and hurried out of the conservatory after Poppy.

“Maybe we should make a start on the posters,” Isla told Grace, who had begun meowing and pretending to lick her paws.

“What about the film?” Grace asked, mid-lick.

“I think Poppy has performance anxiety,” Isla said. “She doesn’t seem very keen to rehearse today.”

“Isla,” Seb said, coming into the conservatory with Milo close behind. “Do you want to see what I caught?”

Isla looked at Milo, who was staring at the floor, giggling. “I’m not sure I do,” she said.

Seb held out a crumpled tissue. He slowly opened it to reveal something black and gooey.

“Ugh, what is it?” Grace asked.

“It’s a fly,” Seb said. “In Scotland we eat flies.” He squeezed the fly between his fingers and brought it up to his mouth.

“Seb!” Isla squealed, her stomach turning as he popped it into his mouth and chewed, a wicked grin on his face.

“Can I have one?” Milo asked, reaching for another black blob.

“Don’t you dare!” Isla said.

Milo burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as tears ran down his cheeks. “It’s … a … raisin!” he gasped, between fits of laughter.

“Your cousin’s a bit strange,” Grace said.

“We’ve made some posters about the mystery cat,” Isla told Gran, waving a wad of paper in the air. “We’re just going to put them up. It’d be amazing if we could reunite the cat with his owners.”

Gran’s eyes grew wide. “How many posters do you need?” she asked.

Isla blushed as she eyed the stack. “I might have got a bit carried away,” she admitted.

“Can you take the boys with you?” asked Gran. “They could do with a bit of fresh air. Your mum’s at work and we’re rushed off our feet in the café. ”

“Isn’t Gabriella helping today?” Isla asked.

Gran let out a deep sigh. “She is – but so far she’s broken another teapot and spilled milk on the kitchen floor, which she then slipped in. Shall I tell the boys to get their shoes on?”

“Do I have to?” Isla grumbled. Seb would probably hide the posters or change the information as a joke.

Gran gave her a stern look and Isla realized she didn’t have a choice.

As they set off down the road, Isla gave the boys strict instructions to stay close and only put up posters where she told them to. But when they reached the park, Seb ran off with Milo hot on his heels.

“Milo!” Isla yelled. He paused for a moment, giving Isla a guilty backwards glance, but then continued on after Seb.

“Hold these,” Isla told Grace, handing her the posters. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

She chased after the two boys, her heart racing when she lost sight of them at the duck pond. Then she noticed them crouching at the water’s edge, half-hidden behind a willow tree.

“I told you to stay with me!” Isla puffed as she finally caught up with them.

“Sorry,” Milo said, glancing sideways at Seb.

“Yes, sorry,” Seb repeated, not looking at all sorry.

Isla narrowed her eyes. “What are you hiding?” she asked Seb.

Seb gave her a little shrug, then showed her his hands, which were empty but filthy and dripping wet.

“I don’t know what you two are up to but it better not be another one of your practical jokes,” said Isla. “Now stay with me, or I’ll take you home to Gran.”

The boys nodded and followed behind Isla, whispering and sniggering to each other.

As soon as they got home, Grace’s dad arrived to take her shopping for her mum’s birthday present, and the boys disappeared into the garden. Isla found Gran and Leonora in the kitchen preparing sandwiches and cakes for the afternoon customers, while Tilda and Gabriella were laying the tables in the conservatory and gossiping as though they hadn’t seen each other for months.

“Any news?” Gran asked as she noticed Isla standing in the doorway.

Isla shook her head and bent down to give Tigger a stroke. “We put up tons of posters and spoke to some of the neighbours but none of them recognized the cat.”

Gran put her hand on Isla’s shoulder and spun her round to face the front door. “Well, at least he’ll be in good hands until we can find him a home.” She grinned.

Isla looked up to see Mum standing in the hallway with the cat carrier and the mystery cat curled up asleep inside.

“Oh! How is he?” Isla gasped, peeping inside the carrier.

“He’s fine,” Mum said. “Lucy thinks he has a stomach ulcer so we need to keep a close eye on him. And I’ve got some medicine that we need to give him every day.”

“I’ll help!” Isla said, beaming.

There was a crash in the conservatory and Isla rolled her eyes. “Gabriella,” she said to Mum by way of explanation.

“I’ll take him up to my room for now, where it’s quiet,” Mum said, gesturing to the cat. “Can you help down here?”

Isla nodded and went into the conservatory, where Gabriella was sweeping up yet another broken teapot.

“We won’t have any left at this rate!” Tilda whispered to Isla as she finished laying the tables.

Isla’s phone beeped with a text from Grace – moaning that shopping with her dad was not fun. As Isla sent a quick reply she suddenly remembered the photo she’d taken of Mum in town. She swiped through the pictures then checked over her shoulder to make sure that Mum wasn’t around before showing it to Tilda.

“Look at this!” Isla said. “Mum and Mr Black were in town together on Thursday and she never said a word about it.”

Tilda squinted at the screen. “Are you sure that’s Mum?” she asked. “It’s a bit blurry.” She zoomed in on the photo.

“Look at the bag!” Gabriella squealed, peering over Tilda’s shoulder.

Isla took a closer look. In Mr Black’s hand was a small bag that Isla hadn’t noticed before.

“It’s from the jewellers!” Tilda gasped, grabbing Isla’s arm. “And it’s the perfect size to hold a ring!”