It’s mid-afternoon by the time Maddy arrives home. She opens her front door to their springers bounding towards her, jumping up and sniffing her coat. Her head is pounding. She reels at the identical wallpaper again and runs to the downstairs toilet, retching so hard she thinks she might choke. This can’t be happening. She washes her face, hardly recognising her pale reflection in the mirror. She takes a couple of migraine tablets and texts Sarah to see if she can pick Emily up from school.

Upstairs, she throws back the covers and lies on her half of the bed. Her whole body is agitated, as though electricity is surging through her veins. She burrows inside the duvet cupping her bump and sobs until she sinks into sleep.

The dogs’ barking wakes her from a shallow nap. It feels like she’s not slept for days. She sits up with a gasp as though she’s been holding her breath under water. Max. She blinks. It wasn’t a dream.

Noise from the TV vibrates through the floor and the smell of toast wafts in the air. Sarah has collected Emily from school. For a few minutes, she lies there, reluctant to leave the warmth. She likes the dim light, the certainty of a heavy downpour at any minute. Reaching over to Max’s side, she fans out her fingers. Eyes closed for a moment, she imagines feeling his bare skin, his face turning to her, smiling.

Sitting up, she is drawn to the photo on her dressing table of her mum and dad on their wedding day. She picks it up and looks closer at her mother’s loose curls framing her serious, nervous face. Perhaps it’s the moment before a smile or is she about to speak? There’s a light tap on the door and Sarah looks in.

‘Are you okay?’

Maddy nods and stands the photo back up. Sarah comes over and touches her shoulder.

‘Goodness Maddy, you really look like your mum there.’

Maddy holds the photo next to herself in the mirror. Although Maddy is several years older than her mother was then, they do look similar, the pale, flawless complexion and dark hair, before the pain and anguish of being cheated on stole her away.

Downstairs, Sarah, Sophie and Emily are in the kitchen eating cheese on toast. Emily leaves a wall of crusts on her plate. Maddy leans down and Emily wraps her arms around her neck.

‘How was school?’ Maddy kisses the top of her head.

‘Good,’ says Emily, ‘I got a merit point for reading.’

‘Well done.’ Maddy tries to muster a smile. She gives Emily another hug.

‘You don’t look well at all. Do you want me to make you a drink or something to eat?’ Sarah switches the kettle on.