So all I say is: ‘Nothing happened. It’s just that before you left for that party last night, I felt like things were really bad between us.’ She looks down at the floor, and I take this as agreement. ‘I guess they’ve been bad for a while now,’ I continue. ‘It’s all my fault, I know it is, and I’m so sorry. But honestly, Daff, I really feel like I’ve figured things out. I’m going to be less crap from now on, I promise you.’

She raises her eyebrows. She looks pleased, but not totally convinced. Which is fair enough. It’s up to me to prove it to her.

The doorbell blasts out, and she breaks out of the hug.

‘That’ll be them.’ She gives me another kiss. ‘I’m glad you said all that. It feels like maybe we’re finally on the same page.’

I feel my heart soar. ‘We are. Honestly.’

The doorbell trills out again in five short, sharp blasts. Daff rolls her eyes. ‘Bloody hell, are they letting the twins ring the bell?’ She leaves the kitchen to go and let them in. As I follow her out, I absent-mindedly dip my hand into my pocket to check my phone.

I stop dead. There’s a new Facebook message.

Hey Ben, I was really sorry to get this message. Are you sure you can’t do 29th? I’ll be around all that week, so eve of 28th or 30th could work too? I was really looking forward to seeing you. Was so good to catch up at the wedding and I felt we had more to say to each other. The truth is, I’ve missed you. What happened in Paris meant a lot to me, and I know it meant something to you too. Let me know about those other dates because I’d really like to see you again. Hope we can sort something. And Merry Christmas … Alice xxx

I hear the front door open. The hallway is suddenly full of laughter and the excited squeal of children’s voices. I stare down at the message again, feeling some unpleasant emotion I can’t quite define.

I’m about to hit delete, but before I can, Daphne’s five-year-old nephews come barrelling down the corridor towards me.

‘Hey, you two! Merry Christmas!’

I slip the phone back into my pocket and bend down to hug them.

After lunch, we all stagger back through to the living room, drowsy from too much turkey and wine.