‘I think she’s cooked her own goose there,’ Tom’s lawyer whispered with a smug expression.

‘Do we have to give her our address?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Isn’t it enough that she’s got my phone number? If she wants to come down to see the kids, she can phone and we can meet somewhere else.’

‘If the judge says give her your address, that’s what you have to do.’

Tom sighed. He was relieved by the main decision, but he hated to see Gail make such a fool of herself, hated the way she looked these days. She was nothing like the slender, laughing girl he’d married.

Outside there was no sign of her, but his mother was waiting to speak to him. He went across to hug her and she leaned against him for a minute.

‘Are you going to stay in London?’

‘Yes. Jez has offered me a job and the cottage to live in.’

‘I’m glad for you, but I’ll miss you and the children. What sort of job?’

He hesitated but couldn’t very well refuse to tell her. ‘Working in his recording studio.’

Her lips grew tight. ‘I might have known he’d drag you into his way of life.’

‘You know I’ve always loved music.’

‘It’s a godless lifestyle.’

‘Please, Mum, don’t start on that.’

She breathed deeply, then took out a handkerchief and blew her nose. ‘I don’t know where you’re living, either.’

‘I’ll give you the address. Here, I’ll write it down. Perhaps you and Dad can come and visit one weekend? I know it’s a long way, but you could make a little holiday of it, stay in a hotel, see a show.’

‘You know I don’t approve of theatrical performances,’ she said, lips pinching together. ‘But we may come and see the children, if that’s all right.’

‘Of course it is.’ But she wasn’t as good with the children as Jane was, didn’t seem able to relax, was always trying to tell them about religion. As if they understood at that age! He wondered what she’d been like when she was younger, to attract a man like Jez. She would still be an attractive woman if she took more care with her appearance, but that too had changed and she now wore dull clothes and a very plain hairstyle.

He didn’t feel like chatting on the way back to London and was grateful that Jane was sitting between him and the lawyer on the plane.

He’d won custody, so he should be feeling happy. Right? And he was relieved. Very. But it was no pleasure to see Gail destroying herself like that. He’d bet she’d gone straight home to have a drink and was cursing him this very minute.

When Elliott dropped Gail at her home, he and Mary offered to stay with her for a while.

‘No, thanks. I’ll be fine.’

‘But will you?’ he asked, giving her one of his earnest looks. ‘I’m worried that you’ll start drinking again.’

‘I won’t.’