‘Yeah, season’s greetings to you too, Joel. Have you left your sweetheart’s bedside specially to call me?’

Any doubt that she hadn’t known what she was doing disappears. ‘You did this . . . why?’

In the background, I hear someone call her name: she’s back at the crash site.

‘People want hope at times like this, Joel. I don’t think it’s going to do your career any harm, nor my series. A little thank you for your help last night. The sound is ropey but your actions during the rescue more than make up for it.’

‘You’ve no idea what you’ve done.’

‘Haven’t I, Joel?’

Before I can think how to respond, she continues, ‘The whole world adores a Christmas love story. Don’t worry, if anyone comes to me, I’ll lie. Tell them we’d already split up, that I wish you both well.’

For a moment, I don’t know what to say. ‘Liv, I—’

‘You’ve never been able to love me completely. I thought it was because of your heart stopping. Or that junkie who almost messed up poor Leo.

‘But it wasn’t any of that. Funny, a camera viewfinder helps you focus, cuts out all the extraneous shit, and I’ve always had an instinct for knowing how to compose the shot.

‘I saw it. You love her. Maybe you loved me a bit, in your own way. You’re not a nasty person. But the way you looked at her when she was being brought out. You’ve never looked at me like that.’

When she stops, I’m not angry anymore. I’ve no right to be. The way I feel about Kerry has been the big constant in my life since I was seventeen years old. Every time I’ve tried to ignore it, it’s damaged her and me and other people: Zoë, and now Liv, too. Love has consequences.

‘Liv. I didn’t realize how I felt until last night. If I had—’

‘I’ll try to remember that when I’m in the IVF last chance saloon. I only ask for one thing.’

‘If it’s the house, we can work it all out. I don’t want you to be worse off because this isn’t your fault.’

‘I don’t care about the house. Just promise me I don’t have to say goodbye to Leo?’

I know that splitting up from Liv is the right thing for me, but Leo can’t be allowed to lose someone he loves, the closest he’s had to a mum.

‘You can see him whenever you want.’ I think of him, still waiting to unwrap his presents. He comes first.