‘He popped out, he said he won’t be long.’ Briony glanced at the long case clock as it chimed the hour. It was eight o’clock and he’d been gone over two hours.

‘Sure he’s never in these days! How’s Bernadette now?’

Briony shrugged. ‘Over the shock. The boyfriend’s another of the great unwashed. Marcus went garrity. Honestly, Mum, I don’t know what happened with all the kids.’

Molly laughed. ‘Every parent says that at some time. Get the telly on, I don’t want to miss Kerry.’

Briony got up and switched the television on.

Molly sighed with contentment. ‘I love Morecambe and Wise. Kerry said she’d get me their autographs!’

Briony heard Tommy’s key in the door twenty minutes later and went out to the hall. ‘You’re back then?’

Tommy laughed. ‘I am! Now how about making me a scotch and soda, I could do with one.’

‘Tommy, where have you been?’

Tommy slipped his coat off and grinned. ‘I’ve been out, Briony, with a mate. Now are you going to interrogate me or are you going to let me in to watch Kerry on Morecambe and Wise?’

Briony stood her ground. ‘I want to know where you’ve been Thomas Lane and I want to know now!’

‘I just told you, Briony, I’ve been out! You’re sounding more like a wife every day. What’s it you’ve always said? You don’t want to be married, you don’t need a piece of paper to prove to the world who you are with... Marriage is outdated... So stop sounding like a harping wife and let me in to watch Kerry. I came back especially to see her.’ He pushed her gently out of the way and went into the lounge.

‘Hello Molly, love. Have I missed her?’

‘No, Tom. She’s not been on yet.’

‘Good, want a refill Moll?’

Briony stood in the hallway and felt an urge to cry. She walked slowly upstairs and went into her bedroom. All her life Tommy had been there as and when she wanted him, now all of a sudden she wasn’t sure of him. She felt a subtle shifting in position. It occurred to her that she needed Tommy Lane a lot more than he needed her.

It was a frightening thought.

Kerry’s voice was loud. ‘Will you hurry up, Briony, Liselle will be here in a minute to pick us up.’

‘All right, Kerry, keep your hair on. I don’t see why you want me there anyway!’

Kerry rolled her eyes at the ceiling. ‘Let’s not start all that again, please! You know how nervous I am when I’m doing TV. We’ll be in and out in no time.’

Briony brushed her hair, looking at herself critically in the mirror.

‘You look lovely Briony.’ The two sisters smiled at one another.