‘OK, well, it’s quite simple. William, my boyfriend, is moving in with me. We’ll have to get rid of some furniture and I wondered if you wanted your old desk, Martin.’ She knew she’d been lucky to get such a long sentence out without being interrupted. During their marriage, even when she wasn’t delivering life-changing news, Sebastian had found it very hard to let her say more than about five words at a time.

‘What!’ shouted Sebastian, spitting a little.

‘Mum! William is your f— freakin’ accountant!’ said Martin.

‘Gilly!’ said Cressida, who had been an ally for such a brief time. ‘What about Leo?’

‘Leo and I were not destined to be a couple,’ said Gilly, deciding not to tell Cressida that Leo was a lying fantasist with strong leanings towards embezzlement.

‘You’re going to let your miserable accountant move in with you?’ demanded Sebastian, leaning towards her in the intimidating way he had used so often in their marriage. ‘Well, let me tell you, that’s not going to happen!’

‘It’s nothing to do with you, Sebastian.’ Gilly reached out for the bottle and topped up her glass.

‘Really, Mum! How can you even think of moving another man into our home!’

‘I raised my children in that house – the one you insisted on keeping although I was entitled to half!’ said Sebastian.

‘But you didn’t raise your children in it, I did; and I did keep it. It’s mine, and if I want William to share it with me, it’s my decision. Cressida, dear, is there more wine somewhere?’

‘Getting drunk won’t help!’ said Martin.

‘Usually, I’d agree with you,’ said Gilly, her head never clearer. ‘But right now, I think wine is the only answer!’

‘So tell us about this William, then?’ asked Sebastian.

‘He’s an accountant,’ said Martin as if that were sufficient to damn him.

‘His hobby is gliding,’ said Gilly.

Sebastian laughed. ‘Well, you won’t be able to join in with that, will you?’

‘Oh yes I will,’ said Gilly quietly. ‘I like gliding.’ The way she said it gave the impression she’d done it more than once, but as she fully intended to go often, it wasn’t really a lie.

‘What?’ said everyone, more or less at the same time. The general disbelief was at once patronising and rather satisfying.

‘It’s amazing up there. We live in such a good area for it, the scenery is so beautiful.’

‘But you won’t even fly in a small plane!’ said Sebastian.

‘A lot of things have changed since you knew me,’ she said. ‘I’m not the woman you left crying in a heap.’ She picked up her glass. It was empty. Cressida leaned across and topped it up.

‘You can’t do this, you know, I won’t permit it,’ said Sebastian.