‘Ellie, you seem to have forgotten she’s pregnant,’ I said. ‘That’s the only reason they’re getting married in the first place.’

Silence fell round the table. Mum slapped down her cup of herbal tea into its saucer hard enough to chip the china. I wasn’t used to seeing her the way she looked at me. Really angry. Almost like she hated me.

Then Mark reached across and took her hand and held it, and carried on holding it, like the two of them were planning on starting a séance or something. The knot of their joined hands lay there on the table and it was both a reproach and a warning: We are as one now. Do not presume to mess with us, or you will pay.

‘That’s not actually true,’ Mark said. ‘I should never have stayed with my ex as long as I did. I should have left her years ago. Before you were born, Ava. I should have gone as soon as I met Jenny. I knew there was something special there. We just clicked. But I didn’t trust my instincts. I thought I had to cut Jenny off, and do everything I could to make my marriage work.’ He grimaced. ‘I can’t tell you how much I’ve regretted that. It was a huge mistake. But I’m trying to make up for it now.’

‘So it was really just timing,’ I said. ‘If you’d met Mum before that other woman, you’d have been with her all along. Is that what you’re saying?’

‘It’s very tempting to play at might-have-beens. I try not to. I’m just relieved and happy that we’re together now.’ He smiled at Mum. ‘You’re a wonderful mother, Jenny. A true natural. And this time I get to be there for you. I can’t believe my luck.’

Ellie looked pleased by this, as if it had been enough to reassure her that he really did love Mum enough for all of this to work out. She said, ‘So what about the honeymoon?’

‘We haven’t decided yet, but we thought we might go to Italy,’ Mum said.

‘Oh! Where in Italy? Would we go to Florence? And Rome? I’d love to see the Sistine Chapel.’

Another shared look between Mum and Mark – a pained one this time. I said, ‘Ellie, they’re not planning on taking us with them. They’re going to go on their own.’

I’d never seen her so crushed. She seemed to fold up into herself as if she wanted to disappear. In the smallest possible voice she managed to say, ‘Are you going to look after me, then, Ava?’

I was about to say yes, but Mum spoke over me: ‘Actually, we were going to ask Mark’s mother if she’d come and stay, and keep an eye on you both while we’re away.’

‘Stay where?’

‘Well, at Mark’s house.’

‘Home,’ Mark said. ‘Your new home. One thing I haven’t mentioned about my house is that I have three bedrooms. You’ll be able to have your own rooms. It’ll do us all for now, but we’re going to have to start thinking about extending. Or moving.’