From now on, she had decided, she would be single forever. Yes, she was resigned to it, absolutely. Relationships were for optimistic idiots, those who didn’t know better. They never worked out, and it was too difficult when you had teenage children in tow anyway; her loyalties were always going to be divided. Maybe once the children were grown-up – say, thirty or so – she’d muster up the stamina to try again, but for now she would be better off slogging along on her own. In fact she’d go as far as to say that she’d sooner get a dog than another relationship. At least with a dog, you were guaranteed uncomplicated loyalty.

So that was cheering – not. Added to which, she had a raging hangover, whimperingly bad, thanks to the impromptu holiday women’s piss-up last night. Still, she’d enjoyed herself at least, what with the three of them setting the world to rights, and they’d had a laugh too, in between their confessionals. Honestly, what was it about being on holiday that made a person throw caution to the wind? She had certainly poured her heart out – well, they all had, to be fair. They’d even ended up swapping numbers and promising to keep in touch. She wondered how Maggie and Olivia were both bearing up so far today, and if they were currently enduring the same drilling headache that she was. God, and Olivia had been planning to ring her husband as well, to broach some peace talks! She was clearly a tougher woman than Em, if she had managed such a thing.

Hope all going well, she texted her spontaneously. Good to chat last night. Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Best of luck to all of them, she thought rousingly, feeling a tiny bit better. Best of luck to every goddamn woman, in fact, who was struggling along this summer, trying to survive the holiday period as best as she goddamn could.

The rallying sentiment was enough to make her sit up, suddenly sick of lying around feeling sorry for herself. No, she would not flop about moping for a moment longer. She was in beautiful Cornwall, in a lovely cottage and she had worked bloody hard to pay for this fortnight away. There was still a week left here and she would damn well enjoy it too – George or no George. Onwards and upwards!

‘Kids!’ she called, fluffing up her hair in the mirror. She had been lying down for so long it had completely flattened against her head. ‘Come and have some lunch, and let’s make a plan for this afternoon. Something really fun! Jack, we could go zorbing, if you still want to do that?’

Just at that moment her phone rang. George, she read on the screen.

‘Are you sure this is safe?’ Maggie asked with a nervous laugh. ‘I’m not about to plunge to an early death or anything?’