The assumption might be that the absence of a mother meant her relationship with her dad had been stronger as a result, but for most of Claudia’s childhood, she had known poverty and neglect that was beyond Bryony’s comprehension. Her dad was a painter and decorator by trade, but you would never have guessed it from the state of their tiny, two-bed terrace. Money had been tight, clothes threadbare, and little Claudia had often relied on the goodwill of neighbours to feed her while her dad was at work. It wasn’t a happy childhood, and when her dad had sold the family home and moved to Chester not long after Claudia had married, he hadn’t given his daughter a forwarding address and she hadn’t asked for one.

‘I know exactly what you mean,’ proclaimed Bryony. ‘My parents decided to swan off and travel the world after plonking the management of the company onto me and my brother.’

Before Bryony could continue with the comparison of their family woes, Claudia’s phone began to vibrate on the table next to her.

‘Is that Justin checking up on you?’

Claudia could see the caller’s name from where she was and waited until the phone stopped before picking it up. ‘No, he’ll be in front of the TV watching the Grand Prix, or else packing for his flight to New York.’

‘I thought he was cutting back on his business trips?’

‘He did for a while, but he can’t stay at home playing nursemaid for ever.’

‘And it’s not as if you need it.’

‘Exactly,’ Claudia replied, trying not to sound deflated. It was true that she felt stronger than she had a year ago, and she didn’t want to be reliant on Justin, but that wasn’t the point. Every time he went away, she felt abandoned.

‘Are you still trying for a baby?’ Bryony asked gently. ‘Is that the problem?’

Claudia pulled the thick, towelling dressing gown around her tightly. ‘I’m scared that we had our one chance and I blew it.’

‘Now that you have more time to relax, it might happen. These things have a way of taking you by surprise,’ Bryony said. ‘But it must be hard for both of you. It can’t help that Sasha’s pregnant.’

Sasha was Justin’s first wife, and Claudia had always felt she was being measured against her, if not in Justin’s eyes then in the eyes of his friends and family. When Claudia had become pregnant, something Sasha had failed to do, she had thought she had the match all sewn up. She should have known. Life for Claudia was a constant battle.

Bryony looked expectantly at the phone clasped in Claudia’s hand. ‘So, was the call important?’