Vicky flicked a perfectly manicured nail at the gold double C on the black quilted leather of the bag. She looked at Claire. ‘Can I ask you a question?’

‘Sure,’ said Claire. ‘Have a seat.’

They all three sat down on the couch.

‘It’s occurred to me . . .’ Vicky paused. ‘Look, don’t shoot the messenger, Claire, but hasn’t it occurred to you that he might be married? All this running back to England looks sort of suspicious and I—’

‘He is married,’ said Claire. ‘You mean Spiro hasn’t told you? I’m sure he knows.’

‘You’re kidding me.’

‘Sadly, no.’

‘Well fuck me.’

‘He’s going to divorce her, first chance he gets,’ Suki chipped in, feeling defensive of her mother.

Vicky gave a sharp sigh. ‘Christ! That old line.’

‘It’s the truth,’ said Claire.

‘I hope you’re right.’

‘I am.’ Claire swallowed hard. ‘He’s having troubles back there right now. His daughter’s lost a baby and his wife needs him there.’

‘How long’s he been there?’

‘About a month.’ Or more . . .

‘But, Claire . . . you need him here.’

‘Look,’ snapped Suki. ‘She knows that. But she can’t put pressure on him, not now. He’s having enough of that at home.’

‘This wife . . .’

‘Shauna,’ said Claire, hating even to say the name.

‘He still got time for her?’

‘He hates her. He wants the marriage done,’ said Suki.

Vicky looked at Claire. ‘Is that the truth? Or just a line he’s spun you?’

‘No. It’s the truth, Vick. It really is,’ said Claire.

‘Well, we got to get him back here then,’ said Vicky.

‘Oh yeah. Easy.’ Claire sighed. She felt like she was losing the fight; that Shauna was winning.

‘Girl – when you got influence, you have to learn to use it,’ said Vicky with a smug smile.

Vicky had a word with Spiro that day, and Spiro made a few calls. Then in the evening, he rang Josh.

‘How are you, Josh?’ he asked.

‘Fine. You?’

‘Fine, fine. My friend, have I got a fight for you! It’s all lined up, you got to come! Next weekend. Big prize money. What do you think?’

It was a get-out clause and Josh felt bad but he grabbed it. He told Shauna that night, and the kids the next day. He slipped an old mate from the pub a tenner and called Claire from the mate’s house. He was getting paranoid about Shauna maybe listening in to his calls if he made them from home.

‘I’m coming back on Tuesday,’ said Josh, and he grinned as Claire whooped with delight.

‘I can’t wait!’ she said, laughing. ‘Oh Josh, I’ve missed you so much.’

‘I missed you too. Tuesday. My flight leaves Heathrow at eight thirty in the morning, and I’ll be at JFK at eleven-o-five.’