‘It did, it totally did. I’m not lying,’ she says. ‘Seriously, Lily’s place would have an actual cake stand and someone to dust it. But wow, it’s awkward when her mum and dad are around. No one talks much, it’s like they’re in church or something. Lily says they’re both obviously waiting for the day that she and her brother leave school so they can file the divorce papers. So I suppose I’m saying thank you, for sparing me a lifetime of seeing you and Mum argue, or at least hate each other silently.’

Becky’s stomach tightens. She can almost hear the tangle and speed of Adam’s thoughts in the silence that follows.

‘It’s different here, I mean we’re different, it’s a different situation,’ he says.

Becky lays a flattened palm to her tummy, protective of the place where Maisie began her life.

She thinks of the times she wished her body would split in two. One half to live in, one half to burn. Her hand circles and un-circles the phone in her pocket. She wonders what scorn she can pour on Scott’s potential evening plans: a late showing of Nightmare On Elm Street? French onion soup at that bistro in Kentish Town? One day she’ll do it, one day she’ll have the guts to post: I hope you find glass in your soup, that it cuts your throat and you drown in your own blood.

‘What do you want to do with these little cakes?’ says Adam.

‘Shall we just put them all out on the plate? She’ll be back any minute. Hey, why are you laughing?’

‘I just don’t understand what’s wrong with being called Danish?’ Becky can tell that Adam is speaking the words through a broad smile.

Maisie sighs. ‘I’m not talking about that again.’

‘Why is someone calling you Danish an insult, though?’

‘It’s not the Danish thing. He was taking the piss out of my height. So what that I’m the tallest girl in the class? I don’t give a shit about it. Call me the Great Dane. Viking girl. Watch me not give a fuck.’

‘Language.’

‘You know you can height-shame as well as fat-shame?’ Her voice is higher, more agitated now. ‘Stop laughing at me!’

‘I’m not laughing at you. Danish women are famously beautiful. They are known for their beauty. The Vikings loved Denmark because all the girls there are really hot.’

‘Oh, yeah, lovely. Pillage me now.’

‘Jules was probably trying to find a way to compliment you.’

‘No.’

‘It takes some men a long time to just say what they think if it involves feelings. Most of the time boys take the piss relentlessly out of anyone they fancy.’

‘I know, I know. Pulling ponytails. Starts in the playground. Jesus,’ she says with disdain.