‘Aren’t you?’ Molly was so unaccustomed to seeing the easygoing Thea in this mood that she couldn’t think of a better answer. ‘He’s renting a house in Bristol, you know, to make it easier for house-hunting.’

‘Oh? Well, I hope Toby won’t mind leaving all his London friends.’ It then occurred to Thea that perhaps it was her friendship with Toby that had made Veronica jealous.

‘I expect Ben’ll end up sending Toby to prep school. It is easier for a single parent.’

The thought of Toby going to boarding school brought sudden tears to Thea’s eyes. ‘I thought that was why they were moving, so he could go to a local school. What’s the point of uprooting him if he’s going to be sent away anyway?’ Then she got a grip. ‘Anyway, it’s none of my business,’ she said, trying to sound brisk. ‘So, when is your pet man coming to fill in the window? Or shall we tackle it ourselves?’

‘Thea! I wouldn’t have an inkling of how to start! I know it’s good to be economical, but really, there are limits to DIY.’ She said the word as if it were strange, very coarse slang and unfit for a lady’s lips.

Thea managed to laugh. ‘Only joking. We’ll have your Handy-Andy.’

‘He’s not called Andy.’ Molly looked worried. ‘He’s called Bob.’

‘Just be a doll and give him a ring, Moll—ee.’

Molly shook her head. Sometimes she found Thea completely incomprehensible.

A lifetime later, at home, Thea sorted through the post, the puppies fighting with her ankles as she did so. Apart from the junk mail there was one letter. She opened it. It was from Toby. He had typed it on his computer.

Dear Thea,

I’m writing to say sorry for causing all that trouble. I heard Dad on the phone to Veronica and I know he doesn’t think you kidnapped me. I just hope you and Dad go on being friends. Please tell me you are.

Love,

 Toby.

This rather formal communication was decorated with stars and space ships. Thea bit her lip. There was no point in her getting sentimental. Toby wanted her and Ben to get together, so he could have a proper mother. Now she’d met Veronica, Thea could see his point. She might not know the first thing about child-rearing herself, but at least she genuinely enjoyed Toby’s company, which she doubted Veronica did.

She just hoped Ben didn’t know how Toby felt. It would madden him. Relationships were difficult enough without having your son trying to influence your love life. Ben would never marry anyone Toby didn’t like, she knew that instinctively. In the same way that she could now accept that if he said he didn’t go looking for Rory for Veronica he probably hadn’t; it was all a horrible coincidence.