Maggie tipped her head from side to side. ‘About ten minutes. Keeping my eyes open.’

‘Guy over there with the girls.’

‘What are you thinking?’

‘Nothing, really. Could be posing as some kind of “modelling” scout? But probably just a common-or-garden douchebag. Should we try and get a look upstairs?’

‘Definitely, if we get a chance. Speaking of mothers, by the way, I just had a narky text from yours.’

‘You’re kidding me.’

‘No. And before you say anything, this time I think she was pissed off I was dragging you out again.’ She glanced at a waitress with dyed pink-and-silver hair cut into a fringed bob, waited until she’d passed. ‘But she’s worried about Lennie, too.’

‘I know. Which is reasonable. I hate being so absent. Even when I’m there – mentally, you know.’

‘I was thinking, unless something urgent comes up, why don’t you take the afternoon off tomorrow? Friday – go and meet her from school, do something together.’

‘She doesn’t like it,’ Robin said before she’d even consciously thought it. ‘Savvy’s.’

‘She told you?’

‘No. She wouldn’t want to make me feel bad.’

‘Hm. Well, I wouldn’t worry yet, it’s so early. I’m surprised she’s even going this week.’

‘She was adamant. I told her she could take the week off, start again on Monday, but she wouldn’t.’

‘How strange.’

Robin made a face: ha ha.

‘You know,’ Maggie said, turning the candle between her fingers, ‘there’s a difference between dwelling and giving yourself a chance to acknowledge that something major’s happened in your life.’

‘I have acknowledged it.’

Maggie’s eyebrows flicked up, sceptical.

The waitress arrived and carefully unloaded the glasses from her little tray. ‘Here you are.’

‘Where are you from?’ Robin asked. ‘I’m trying to place your accent.’

‘Milano. Italy.’

‘Ah. Nice.’

Maggie waited until she’d gone again. ‘Don’t draw attention to us ’til we’ve had the sliders, will you? I’ve been thinking about them since Tuesday. But going back to Lennie – seriously, her feet can’t have touched the ground. It’s too much for anyone to process, let alone at thirteen. Give her a chance on the school front, she’ll start to settle in.’

‘I don’t fucking want her to settle in.’ It burst out, sounding way more hostile than she would have chosen.

Maggie looked at her, eyebrows now all the way up.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean here – Birmingham.’

‘Yeah, you do.’ She sipped her wine.

‘Maggie, I …’

‘You can’t always be in control, Robin. Sometimes things happen. What you’ve got to do is find a way to live, be comfortable – or at least not constantly chafing against it all – until you can sort things out.’

‘But …’

Maggie put a hand up, Wait. ‘Nothing’s forever. Take some time now to get your breath back, recuperate a bit.’