“He’s acting strangely. Recently I’ve seen a side of him I really don’t like.” Milly turned back to the pan and added the mushrooms. “Not just the fact that he had an affair, but the way he shirks responsibility. He does what suits him, and the rest of us have to fit round him and just be grateful when he shows up. And I hate how that must make Zoe feel. I want him to show her that she is more important to him than anything else.”

“You’re always thinking about Zoe.”

“I don’t want her to be hurt. I would lie down in front of a bus for her.” Milly turned down the heat and headed back to the fridge. “I’m sure every mother feels the same way.”

The moment the words left her mouth she wanted to pull them back, but it was too late for that.

“Not every mother.” Nicole scooped up Tiger and held him close. “Zoe is lucky to have you.”

“That was tactless. Forgive me.” She waited for Tiger to object to being held and wriggle away, but he sat still, tolerating the affection, as if he sensed that Nicole needed the comfort more than he needed to escape.

“Nothing to forgive. It’s the truth. Most mothers would put their child first. Just not mine.” She hugged Tiger. “But maybe in the end all this will make Zoe tougher. She’ll learn an important lesson. That sometimes the people you love can hurt you and disappoint you. They can make bad choices that you don’t understand. And you will probably still love them anyway. But however they choose to behave, you can choose to be okay.”

Milly mixed together eggs and cream.

“Are we talking about Zoe or you now?”

Nicole laughed. “Definitely Zoe. I’m not okay. I’m as messed up as they come. Look at me, thirty-six years old and still trying to get my mother’s approval. Pathetic, right?”

“Not pathetic.” She couldn’t imagine where she’d be without her mother’s and grandmother’s support. It was something she took for granted. Something everyone should be able to take for granted. “Has your mother messaged you?”

“What do you think?” Nicole kissed Tiger on the head, and he wriggled out of her arms, clearly deciding that kissing was more than one independent cat could reasonably be expected to tolerate.

Milly sprinkled flour on the work surface and rolled out a circle of pastry. “As you just said to me, you do know it’s not you?”

“Ah, but in this case it is me. I’m a big disappointment.”

“Because your career has been such a failure.” Milly flashed her a smile. “You really should have done better. Tried harder.”