‘That’s because after the bust-up with Mum, I had just come off the phone from calling Phil back to let him know that it wasn’t going to be possible for me to go on the spa weekend. You know, I had even made my mind up to make some changes in my life. I was actually feeling excited at the prospect of a weekend off and going somewhere new … that’s a massive deal for me!’

‘I know it is, darling. And I’m proud of you … when I said you’d be golden in no time, I never imagined you’d be jaunting off to swanky spa hotels at the drop of a hat,’ he laughed, kindly. ‘So good for you! Sounds like the old Grace that we know and love is coming back sooner than we anticipated.’

‘Hmm, well she would have been if that …’ she paused and raised a pointed index finger at the ceiling before adding, ‘rude, ungrateful … cow-bag hadn’t ruined it all,’ in a whisper.

‘Ooooh, Grace! You are definitely coming back to us … I haven’t heard you use the “c” word in ages,’ he laughed, shaking his head in mock disapproval. ‘Go on, say it again … it’ll make you feel a whole lot better, I promise.’

‘Oh don’t.’ She tried not to smile. ‘I really shouldn’t complain about her, I wouldn’t even have anywhere to live if she hadn’t let me come back home when I needed to after what happened with Matthew.’

‘Yes you would!’ Jamie nodded firmly. ‘I have a perfectly good spare bedroom next door that you could have moved into.’

‘The one with a lodger in?’

‘Well, err … yes …’ He stalled and then quickly added, ‘But he could easily sleep on the sofa.’

‘No he couldn’t, not when he’s paying you rent. I couldn’t do that; it wouldn’t have been fair. Anyway, it doesn’t change the fact that I can’t have one lousy weekend off.’

‘True. And when were you supposed to be going?’

‘Quite soon, it was going to be a treat for my birthday,’ she told him, and then added, ‘Well, one I’d have to pay for myself,’ letting her voice fade away on remembering Phil’s ‘if we go halves’ statement.

‘Your birthday?’ Jamie said, sounding surprised, but with a dash of confusion on his face.

‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten,’ Grace sighed and looked upwards in mock despair. ‘We always get pizza and play charades and drink cheap cider. Not that we have to do that, of course. I guess it is a bit childish with us being actual adults now, and not geeky teenagers any more, with no other friends apart from each other.’

‘Stop it,’ Jamie said abruptly. ‘Of course I haven’t forgotten, so don’t be talking yourself down. Your birthday is important. It’ll be wonderful, I promise you.’