‘But the crying, waking up all night long? And Madison – God, you see what she’s like. Sometimes I wonder if it would be kinder. The mother they have.’

I wasn’t paying attention. I should have been. I didn’t ask what would be kinder, because of course I had no idea what was going on in David’s mind, the dark abyss of it. Instead I said, ‘How’s it going with the witch series?’

‘Oh. Well, you know how it is. These things take time.’

But I didn’t have time. I had to go home in four months.

He stood watching me a while longer, then eventually turned and I heard his footsteps going down the stairs. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew we had brushed against something, some truth I didn’t want to acknowledge.

The next morning – or rather, four hours later – I was up packing Madison’s lunch, cutting fruit for breakfast. Carson was in his high chair, playing with some slices of banana, quiet again, and Madison slumped at the table, not eating hers. I was surprised when Abby came into the kitchen, dressed not in workout clothes but in a summer dress and sandals. She’d even blow-dried her hair and wore it loose, reminding me how beautiful she really was.

‘Good morning,’ I said, trying to hide my surprise.

She didn’t answer, but took some of the kiwi I was cutting and put it into her mouth.

‘Are you going somewhere?’ I asked tentatively.

‘I’m going to get the role that’s made for me. Esmerelda.’

That was a witch in the YA series David said his company had the rights to. Esmeralda was a mother, but still young and beautiful and with a good storyline. I was confused. If Abby wanted the part, surely she wouldn’t have to try out for her own husband’s company.

‘I thought David said . . .’

She barked a laugh. ‘Oh, David doesn’t have the rights to the series. Didn’t you hear?’

‘Hear what?’

‘He never had them to start with. The money didn’t go through for the option fee and Sony snapped it up instead.’

‘What?’ For weeks now David had been talking as if it was a done deal.

She smiled. She had seeds in her teeth. ‘He doesn’t have the rights. So let’s see him shut me out of it now!’

‘So you’re going . . .’

‘I have a meeting with Sony, yes. Luckily, I still have some clout left in this industry!’