‘Nico and Loren are talking,’ Vivvi said in a pointed, curt way. She looked Hannah up and down as Hannah’s coat blew open, no doubt taking in the leggings and shirt, the tinsel she’d wrapped around her belt. Feeling foolishly like a kid playing dress-up, she yanked off her hat and let her hair fall down.

‘I’m aware of Nico’s liaison with you,’ Vivvi went on coldly. ‘It’s not to be wondered at if he looked elsewhere for “entertainment”—’ she said the word as if she didn’t want it in her mouth ‘—while he and Loren went through a difficult time. But they have these two little girls. It’s time for them to try again.’

Offence at words like ‘liaison’ and ‘entertainment’ was completely subsumed by a wash of horror as Hannah took in Vivvi’s final words. Shame followed as she realised the horror was for herself. Nico had not given her any form of commitment. ‘They’ve been divorced for ages,’ she said through numb lips.

Vivvi bristled. ‘These challenging chapters happen in adult relationships,’ she said in a way that somehow implied Hannah wouldn’t know. ‘It’s hard when Loren suffers a bout of depression but Nico never gives up on her. Taking Maria was his way of showing Loren he could accept her so they could create a stable home together. Loren’s my daughter and it pains me to say this, but she needs that man and he finds being a single dad lonely – hence you, I suppose. But even you must see that those lovely kiddies need both their parents.’ Vivvi sniffed. ‘Sleeping with you a few times doesn’t compare to years of marriage. He’s a man – why wouldn’t he sleep with you, if you were on offer? But if there’s one thing Nico Pettersson is all about, it’s facing up to his responsibilities. It was him who asked me to take the girls out while he and Loren talked. Josie and Maria are going to be so happy when they’re all one little family again!’ This last was delivered with a caring sympathy Hannah didn’t buy.

But that was irrelevant – or ‘our elephant’ as Maria had once said. Every word the woman said was shrivelling her heart with guilt and humiliation.

She tried to think, remembering Nico not answering a single text or call today. Not turning up as promised. All the times he’d blown hot and cold … she’d forgotten them once he’d turned his brilliant blue eyes on her in Sweden. Been blinded by his lovemaking and the easy way he’d brought her into his family. They’d laughed over Carina’s matchmaking but maybe Hannah had been so conveniently ‘on offer’ that he’d taken advantage of it?