Her eyes lit up at the prospect, her imagination already leaping ahead. A boutique bolthole somewhere gorgeous, wandering old streets together hand-in-hand, ordering exotic cocktails in romantic bars and snogging in a corner. An enormous hotel bed with crisp white sheets – and not an interrupting or arguing child in sight, either. ‘Ooh, now you’re talking,’ she said. ‘A proper holiday.’ And why not? They had bloody well earned it, after the week that had just gone by. ‘That’s a great idea.’

‘Good. I thought so too. Well, I’d better go,’ he said. ‘But let’s make a plan once you’re back.’

‘Tapas and plans – I’m in,’ she said, feeling a goofy smile spreading across her face. ‘Good to talk to you, George.’

‘You too,’ he said.

Em felt starry-eyed as they said goodbye and hung up, then she flopped back onto her bed and danced her legs around with happiness. Yes! Yes! A second chance lay ahead, at a tapas bar in Suffolk Parade, and an as-yet-unbooked hotel room somewhere sexy. There was hope still to be had, and by the bucket-load. And a daughter to thank, too!

She knocked on Izzie’s door and poked her head round to see Izzie lying on her bed, smiling as she typed into her phone. ‘Hi,’ said Em. ‘I’ve just spoken to George – I gather you sent him a message earlier.’

Izzie’s smile froze and then became something resembling anxiety. She rolled over and sat up, her phone abandoned. ‘Is that okay?’ she asked worriedly. ‘I just wanted to make things right. Is he . . . cross?’

Em sat on the bed and put an arm around her. ‘No, he’s not cross. I think we’re going to be all right, to be honest. Disaster averted.’ She gave Izzie a squeeze. ‘Thank you for whatever you said to him. It was really thoughtful of you. Really mature.’

‘That’s okay. I’m sorry I . . . you know. Mucked things up to start with.’

Em stroked her hair. ‘Well, I’m sorry that I mucked up your holiday by inviting George and Seren along, without talking to you and Jack first. I won’t do that again, okay? And we’ve got the second week all to ourselves, so from now on, your wish is my command. I know Jack is very keen to go rafting and zorbing and what have you, and if there’s something special you want to do, then please do say the word. I’m all yours.’

Izzie’s face became suffused with a blush. ‘Um. Well. Actually . . .’ Her eyes swung down to the phone beside her. ‘So you know how last night I was asking if I could go out with a friend, and you said no?’

Aha. Somehow, in all the palaver of the night before, Em had forgotten about this mysterious new friend. ‘Yes,’ she replied, intrigued.