The gym was across the street from the motel. It was a guys-lifting-weights-type place, rather than StairMasters and girls in Lycra. Ed had started lifting weights with Harry and asked if he could try the gym when they’d first moved in. Charlie worried he’d get teased by a bunch of jocks, but the gym’s sixty-something-year-old owner, Bryan, gave Ed training programmes and kept an eye on him.

‘Patrick, you’re too young for the gym,’ Charlie said.

‘But it’s school holidays so Marty’s there,’ Patrick pleaded. ‘I can play with him.’

‘Who’s Marty?’ Charlie asked.

‘Bryan’s grandson,’ Ed said, as if Charlie was stupid. ‘He was hanging around the motel pool half the summer.’

Charlie felt frustrated with herself. Besides feeling sad all the time and the daily fight to get out of bed, she forgot simple stuff, like people’s names and picking Patrick up from pre-school.

She was wary of sending Patrick to the gym without checking, but she liked the idea of getting the boys out of her hair for a few hours. Bryan’s number was in her phone and he said his bored grandson would be delighted with some company.

‘All right,’ Charlie said, faking cheer. ‘Patrick, put on your virus mask and keep it on like you have to at pre-school. Ed, when you get back here after your workout, put those stinking clothes in a bucket with hot water and some disinfectant. Then take a shower, and wash your hair properly with shampoo.’

Charlie smiled as her two energetic boys put on shoes, and grabbed their virus masks and gloves.

‘How many times, Ed? Turn that TV off,’ Charlie barked, throwing a hoodie at Patrick. ‘Put that on – it’s cold out. And, Ed, take your key in case I’m still downstairs. And hold Patrick’s hand when you cross. The road is quiet, but the cars come round that corner so fast.’

‘All right, mommykins,’ Ed said, balancing Patrick on his stocky shoulders and ducking so he didn’t thump the five-year-old’s head on the door frame.

70 NO MODS ALLOWED

Charlie realised how cold it was when she stood barefoot on the first-floor balcony. She was pleased to see Patrick holding Ed’s hand as they crossed the street, and turned back after they’d vanished through a door with a weightlifter logo and a white-on-black banner that read 100% Natural. NO MODS ALLOWED.

Charlie shivered as she shut the door with her heel, then felt conned when she realised the boys had escaped without helping to clean up. A huge part of her wanted to burrow under the covers and go back to hiding from the world, but she knew she’d spend the rest of the day there if she did and she hoped a shower would give her a jolt.