My mum friends had many other questions. How were the kids coping? Were either of us seeing other people yet? What were we going to do if one of us got into another serious relationship? Would the nest-parenting situation be a permanent thing?

‘We’re taking things day by day and week by week at the moment, but the prime focus for both of us is making sure Saxon and Payton’s lives are disrupted as little as possible.’

Although Adrian was clearly seeing other women, jumping into any kind of commitment would cramp his new-found freedom, so I didn’t think worrying about how such a thing would affect our custody arrangement was something I needed to concern myself with just yet.

‘What are you doing with yourself on the weeks you’re not with the kids?’ asked Liza, her tone slightly accusatory.

‘I’m keeping busy. I’ve got a casual job in a cafe and I’m also working on a newspaper. I’m loving it. I’d forgotten how good it feels to be doing something for me.’

‘You sound like a new woman,’ Liza said wistfully as the siren sounded.

I smiled as the classroom door opened and children spilled out, putting an end to the interrogation. Facing the other mums hadn’t actually been as bad as I’d imagined.

I opened my arms wide so Payton could run into them, but she barely gave me a hug before pulling away. ‘I’m starving. What’s for afternoon tea?’

And I missed you too, I thought, trying not to show my hurt that she seemed more interested in food than seeing me.

‘I was thinking of making pumpkin scones,’ I said with a smile.

Payton hesitated a moment as if considering whether this was to her satisfaction and then shrugged. ‘Okay.’

As we started to the car, I asked her how her day had been and was relieved when her mouth ran off like normal. ‘We have to do a personal learning project and I’m going to write a biography of Sam Kerr. Dad said you’d be able to find the photo he took of us when she signed my T-shirt at the game last year?’

‘Of course, and that sounds like your perfect project.’

I wondered why Adrian, who probably still had the photo on his phone, couldn’t find it himself, but then again, in the past he’d never had to because I’d always managed this kind of thing. I certainly wouldn’t make that mistake again if I ever entered into another relationship.

Payton talked all the way home, barely even pausing when eating her afternoon tea. She did however admit that, no matter how much she enjoyed the processed snacks Adrian provided, my fresh-out-the-oven scones were far superior to anything he could buy.

Call me petty, but I couldn’t help but glow at the praise.