‘Oh, yes. I suppose we are a gang. I guess swimming together does instantly bond you. I’ve lived here for ten years and being down at the beach is the first time I’ve really felt part of a wider community. The women in the Sea-Gals, they’re really lovely.’

Maddy smiles. The Sea-Gals. She remembers the older one mentioning that now. She likes the playful pun. These are obviously not women who take themselves too seriously. ‘They were very good-natured about the dog.’

‘Dominica totally fell for Luna.’

Dominica must have been that tall striking one, Maddy thinks, remembering how Luna had crawled onto her lap.

‘Why don’t you come down and join us sometime? Helga had been about to ask you to join the group. I can take your number if you like and get her to add you?’ the woman says, taking out her phone.

Maddy is about to refuse, but the woman seems insistent and, before Maddy knows it, she’s given over her details.

‘How long have you lived here?’ Claire – as she now introduces herself as – asks.

‘A few weeks.’

‘Is that all?’ She sounds shocked.

‘Yes, I’m … I’ve … I’ve left my husband.’

Claire bites her lip, embarrassed. ‘Oh, no. I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s been coming for a while.’ It’s only now that she says these words that Maddy realises how true it is.

‘Are you all right? Are you staying with family?’

‘No, no, I’m alone, although I’m trying to find my son. He lives here. I think.’

‘You think?’

‘We’ve lost contact and …’ Maddy feels her voice break and a rush of emotion, making tears spring to her eyes. She nods to the picture she’s just taped up.

‘Don’t apologise. Honestly, I complain about those two the whole time, but I couldn’t bear to be separated. That must be so tough.’

Her genuine compassion feels so comforting. ‘I’ve tried really hard to find him, but I’ve drawn a blank so far.’

‘Come for a swim. Or at least come down to the beach and meet the others. They’ve all been in Brighton for years. One of them might be able to help. We’re going in the morning. Nine o’clock. You’d be most welcome.’ Claire smiles brightly and squeezes her arm, as if they’ve already arranged it.

Maddy smiles back at her and gives her a little wave as she leaves through the gate with her sons. Where she lives, her friendships have taken years to build, alliances carefully formed through friends of friends, new women vetted for their credentials as having the right balance of looking the part, whilst being fun. All of them are wealthy. All of them have designer homes. All of them, she thinks now, unhappily skinny.

It’s been a very long time since she’s formed a spontaneous friendship, certainly with someone like Claire. Someone normal. She can well imagine the derogatory comment Trent would make about her appearance. He’s always been such a body fascist – one of the reasons that Maddy’s kept her figure so trim and well maintained. Because of Trent’s ‘high standards’. But now she knows what a wanker he is, it only makes her more resolved to take up Claire’s kind offer to join them swimming tomorrow. Is she brave enough?