He put his hand on her arm and her stomach gave a slow, delicious flip. Actual goosebumps pimpled up like soldiers standing to attention. ‘At least we still get to be together,’ he said.

She nodded, lost in his eyes, the world suddenly contracting around them to this small private moment. His skin on hers. The water gently rippling against their bodies. A universe where only the two of them existed and they understood one another perfectly. Maybe later on tonight they could sneak out for more of an X-rated dip together beneath the cover of darkness. She shivered with pleasure as all sorts of erotic images tumbled into her mind. Now that would improve the holiday no end.

Then she squealed in shock as a small person dive-bombed into the water beside her, spraying Em full in the face.

‘Daddy!’ cried the small person – Seren, unsurprisingly. ‘Play with me now. My leg is still hurting a bit you know.’

George gave Em a rueful smile. Here we go again. ‘Hold that thought,’ he told her, winking as if he’d read her mind a moment earlier. Then he scooped up Seren and hoisted her high in the air, which made her shriek with excitement. ‘Right, you little munchkin, where shall I throw you?’

Em tanked up and down a few times – the pool was too small to swim lengths really, but at least you could clock up five or six very easily, and then Jack suggested a lilo race, just the two of them, and soon she could feel her equilibrium returning. This was good. This was great, actually – the four of them, having fun, nobody arguing or being jealous or having a strop. Relax, Em. Capture it in your mind’s eye like a perfect family photograph: proof that some parts of the holiday were a success. Click!

‘Your turn, George,’ Jack said, when it became clear that he was beating his mother with far too much ease. He turned a splashy somersault in the water and grinned. ‘Front-crawl sprint. Although I hope you’re not going to be a bad loser about this, when I win.’

George laughed. ‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘I’ll swim with Seren on my back and I’ll still beat you. Are we on?’

‘In your dreams!’ Jack retaliated. ‘Me against you, so you don’t have any excuses when I annihilate you. Prepare to weep man-tears of shame, George. Mum, you’re the judge. Seren, give us a Ready, Steady, Go.’

The two of them lined up in racing positions on the far side of the pool, arms bent back behind them, feet against the wall, ready to push off.

‘READY STEADY GO!’ yelled Seren at the top of her voice.