She hasn’t meant to say something so big – so profound. It feels like she’s treading on sacred turf, asking him to discuss their marriage, but now that she’s said it, it feels like she’s switched a light on in a forgotten room.

‘What? What on earth makes you say that?’

‘A lot of things.’

‘Like what?’

Claire sits down on the chair next to him.

‘Like … I don’t know. When was the last time we had a conversation – just the two of us – that wasn’t something to do with our domestic arrangements?’ He looks startled. ‘And I’m not blaming you. I guess you’re probably feeling lonely and isolated too.’

‘You’re lonely?’ he checks. ‘But we’re together all the time.’

‘Are we, though? Because, if I’m honest, I’ve been feeling a bit lost. Like I’m invisible.’

‘But you’re not. You look after us all.’

‘Exclusively. I shop and cook and clean, but it feels like half the time I’m a domestic slave whilst you get to work and then play Fortnite the rest of the time.’

‘I was just trying to keep the boys occupied.’ He’s defensive and she sighs.

This isn’t going as she’d hoped. She’s just come across as jealous. But then she remembers what Dominica said: that all emotions are valid and that she has to own them. She’s not going to apologise. Even so, she’s annoyed that she’s brought it down to specifics, when she was trying to have a chat about the bigger picture. She’s determined to persevere.

‘And what about you?’ she asks.

‘What about me?’

‘From your point of view? What’s been going wrong?’

‘Wrong?’

‘Well, come on. We’re not firing on all cylinders, are we? Not like we could. Not like we used to.’

He sighs. ‘You seem … I don’t know. Distant. I’ve been wanting to give you space. You’re hard to cuddle at night.’

‘I know,’ she says. ‘It’s these hormones. It’s the menopause.’

‘Aren’t you getting HRT?’

‘I might, but I want to try other things first. But this is all bigger than my body changes.’

‘What is?’ Pim is confused. ‘Just tell me what you’re trying to say.’

‘Well, I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I’m entering the second half of my life. I love you and I love our boys, but I want more. I want to feel fulfilled. I want my life to mean something. I want to help people and do things and make a difference. Not just clear up after you lot.’

She hasn’t said what she wants out loud for so long, it feels scary, but exhilarating too. Like she’s on a water slide and she can’t stop.

‘And I want to feel respected. As a woman. Because, in this house, I feel undermined all the time and I don’t want to be shouted down. I want us to parent better together because I can’t bear clashing with you.’

She’s shaking. Pim stands up, taking all of this in, but he doesn’t say anything.