After extensive mulling over it, I decide to call in a hefty favour from my good mate Santi to make this an evening for Marlowe to remember, and so it is that she and I meet outside London’s iconic jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s, one Friday night. She refused to let me pick her up, so I make sure I’m waiting on the street when she turns up.

‘You look absolutely beautiful,’ I tell her sincerely before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. It’s true. She looks knockout in heels and a little black dress that shows off her toned arms and legs. Her hair is long and straight, and I wish I could bury my nose in it.

‘Thank you,’ she says a little breathlessly.

‘Tabs doing okay this evening?’

I’ve seen Tabby with Marlowe four times since our weekend at my parents. Given it’s the end of August and the construction industry is as dead as a dodo, I’ve enforced early departure times for the two of us whenever I can. Just this week, we’ve taken Tabs to play mini golf one evening and do roller skating on another. She was excellent at the latter, Marlowe looked like one of the newborn foals at my parents’ stables, and I was pretty fucking awesome. At least it gave me a chance to hold Marlowe’s hand a lot.

I also gave her the afternoon off to take Tabs back-to-school shopping.

‘You’ve both been through a lot,’ I pointed out when she protested. ‘The summer holidays have been seriously rough for both of you. She’ll be back at school next week. Take some time with her while you can.’

She kissed me on the cheek then, which sustained me through her absence for the rest of the afternoon.

‘She’s okay,’ she says now. ‘A bit tired, maybe, but her sats are normal. She’s with a sitter tonight.’

I’m instantly on alert. ‘Are you worried? Do you want to go home?’

‘No, I’m good.’ She lays a hand on my arm. ‘Robbie has her in hand. I use a babysitting agency that’s staffed by paediatric nurses. It’s probably just that she’s had a hectic week—far more active than she’s used to.’

‘Okay. If you’re sure. We can leave at any point, you know.’

She smiles at me. ‘I hope not. I’m excited. Who’s playing tonight? It didn’t say anything on the website.’

I tut. ‘Such a nosy girl. It’s a private event. You’ll see soon enough.’