‘Effective though,’ Lily mused. ‘I remember how antsy Sergio was because he’d come into the marriage with family money behind him and I hadn’t. He at least played everything right down the line though.’

‘I’m conflicted,’ Carola confessed, mopping up the cream and crumbs from her plate with her fingertip. ‘If the situation drags on he could end up living in a skanky bedsit. He’s desperately looking for a new job, even if it’s just a temporary contract, but you know how much is outsourced these days, or companies have moved to other countries to stay within the EEC.’

‘Yes, I’m suffering in the same way,’ Lily said with feeling. ‘Have you discussed it with Owen?’

Carola groaned. ‘Owen’s supportive but says he realises Duncan’s the girls’ dad and I have to consider their feelings.’ She began to spoon up cappuccino froth with a teaspoon. ‘He’s right but I wish he wasn’t. The only real solution I’ve come up with so far is to lend Duncan some of the money that was my part of our divorce settlement while he waits to get his share of whatever he’s accumulated with Sherri. That doesn’t seem right, does it?’

‘No,’ Lily agreed. Realisation settled on her along with a fresh unhappiness. ‘If I wasn’t living there, would you move him into my apartment?’

‘But you are living there!’ Carola declared. But she didn’t look at Lily as she said it. ‘I just wish Emily wouldn’t cry.’ She dredged up a smile. ‘Anyway, how about you?’

Lily hated the idea of Emily crying too. She also realised Carola was another one who wouldn’t have a sympathetic view of anything other-womanish, even allowing for Lily not really being ‘the other woman’. So she picked on something other than her and Isaac to grouse about. ‘I’m feeling the fall-out from the tricky economic situation, just like Duncan. Clients I’d thought I was working for going quiet – that kind of thing.’ In fact, she was just as conflicted as Carola, but about her own situation.

They finished their drinks with some companionable complaining before Carola went back to work.

When Lily stepped back outside, feeling fatter, if not better, the snow had increased sufficiently for her to pull up her hood. It looked so pretty as it coated the hedges like lace that she decided to cross over Port Road and join the footpath back through the Carlysle Estate before going home in an effort to work off a few calories.