‘He’s just a friend. There’s nothing between us,’ I lie, not proud of myself but sometimes there’s a place for a small lie, if it stops someone else being hurt.

She sniffs. ‘He would have made a good father for Tomas,’ she says. ‘He’s really good with children. I think he misses his family. He would make a good father and husband.’

‘He’s much older than you, Stephanie.’

‘Age doesn’t matter,’ she says. ‘Age is about how old you feel. Some of us have lived a lifetime already. Becoming a parent makes you grow up.’

I wonder if it was a dig, but let it go. She’s upset. I remember being a teenager and wish I’d told Mum how sorry I was for all the hurtful things I said in the heat of the moment, that I didn’t mean any of them. But I think she knew that. Just like I get the feeling that Stephanie doesn’t mean to hurt me now.

‘Love is love,’ she says.

‘And do you love him?’ I ask.

She pushes out her lips as only the French seem able to do, telling me all I need to know. I look around at the bags. ‘Please don’t do anything you’ll regret. Don’t go anywhere. This is your home. Yours and Tomas’s.’

She suddenly looks horrified.

‘Tomas! Where is Tomas?’ She leaps to her feet.

‘He’s with some friends of mine who have just arrived. He’s introducing them to Ralph.’

A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. I would love to hug her and tell her everything will be fine, but I know she’s not ready for me to do that. So, I do the only thing I know that will make this better right now: ‘I promise, Stephanie, that there is nothing between Fabien and me. Nor will there be.’ I lift my chin. ‘Now, wash your face, unpack these clothes and come and say hello to our guests.’ I speak gently but firmly, hoping I’ve got the tone just right. And, by the look of it, I have. She nods and starts to unpack the blue plastic bags. This time she hasn’t run. She’s stayed put, and I feel proud of her for that.

‘This is Stephanie,’ I say to Lou and Rhi, who are sitting at the table on the terrace, watching Tomas chasing Ralph chasing butterflies and smiling. They’re still clearly bewildered, the wine giving their cheeks a hint of a glow.

‘Tomas’s maman,’ I explain.

‘Maman!’ he shouts, runs to her and clutches her leg.

‘Bonjour,’ says Stephanie, shaking hands with Lou and Rhi in turn.

‘Stephanie is my chambermaid and kitchen assistant here at Le Petit Mas,’ I say, and Stephanie’s smile is back. Now it says she has a place in the world that is all hers.

‘Chambermaid?’ says Lou.

‘Kitchen assistant?’ says Rhi.