‘I’m so sorry for hurting you with this,’ I said remorsefully. ‘Albie and I are so lucky to have you.’ I stopped and looked into his eyes. ‘Kiss me, if it’s going to be all right,’ I whispered.

And he did.

My fortieth birthday came and went in October, without me really wanting to mark it at all. Oscar cooked me dinner at home and it was all very low-key. Once we had got through Christmas, the decorations had been packed away and the dust had settled on everything that had happened, Oscar and I had decided to move away from Clapham. We really needed a fresh start. Besides, we had always imagined the rented house was a stop-gap. In truth, it had been a trial for our relationship, and somehow, despite it all, we had managed to come out stronger.

We craved a house with a decent-sized garden for Albie, in close proximity to good schools and a station for Oscar’s commute, but not too far from Pippa who lived with Evie and Ollie in Sheen.

We had viewed three houses in Kingston upon Thames, and had opted for the middle one. With Oscar’s salary, plus the money from my flat, which I had sold to my tenant, we had been able to upscale to a five-bed with an ample garden. I had loved the house immediately – it was a new build, but in a traditional style. A proper family home. It had plenty of storage space, which appealed to my love of order and neatness, and there was a brand-new kitchen, with a white marble-topped island, which made my heart sing. I had got back into cooking over the last few months and was starting to foster dreams of starting a home-baking company and writing a cook book, once Albie started at nursery and I had some more time on my hands. I knew a great PR and marketing company who could take it on for me.

And now it was early summer. Albie was a lively boy, energetic and inquisitive, and was already walking and chatting nonsense by the time he turned one. He seemed to need constant entertaining so I embraced taking him to various classes and activities, being in the fortunate position of not having to rush back to work just yet, despite having been on maternity leave for just over a year.

We had just returned home from a local Gymboree session when the message appeared on my phone. It was the first message on the Baby Group thread in a long while and seeing that baby bottle icon again stopped me in my tracks. My stomach flipped.

Susie: Hello everyone, long time! Hope you and the little ones are all doing well? Hasn’t time flown?! We’re having a naming ceremony for Charlie, on Saturday 30^th September on Clapham Common, 3 p.m., under the big oak tree by the Windmill pub. I know it’s a little way off, but since most of you have moved away now, we thought we’d get the date booked in. Lin, Charlie and I would absolutely love to see you there. We can call it a reunion of sorts! No presents, just bring a dish – for old times’ sake ;-). Pray for good weather.

Maggie is not invited!! Mooooo! Ha ha.

RSVP.

Love Susie xx