Then Paul calls out and her eyes open, he is waving a bottle of wine, offering it about. Martin holds out his glass then turns to chat to Melissa about the beach they visited the day before. The moment passes. Grace picks up her fork; Martin is allowed to look at another woman, everyone flirts on holiday. He loves her and their children. He’s far too lazy to pursue anyone seriously. She can’t help smiling at the way his shirt strains across his belly; too fat and too lazy. Martin catches her smile and returns it; she feels better. He can flirt all he likes; he belongs to her. Soon they will be in bed, together, but then her mind darkens at the thought of hands on her body, even his. They haven’t made love in a month, maybe more. She looks at those familiar hands on the tablecloth, tanned now, the index still ink-stained; perhaps it will be different tonight.

Poppy nudges Sorrel. ‘It’s your turn this evening.’

Sorrel looks round the table then down at her plate, shaking her head.

‘The kids have been taking it in turns to choose a myth,’ Eve tells Grace. ‘Then Martin makes it into a story; so clever of him.’ She turns to Martin, her eyes shining. ‘I expect Sorrel would like one with a dog in it. Can you do that?’

‘Of course.’ Martin smiles at Sorrel. ‘Let’s see, a dog. Can you tell me the name of a dog in your favourite story, little Sorrel?’

‘Spot,’ Sorrel whispers.

There is a quiet snort, Poppy or Izzy, ignored by Martin.

‘Once upon a time there was a dog named Cerberus – or Spot for short – who had three heads. One ate breakfast, the second lunch, the third gobbled down supper.’

Sorrel giggles. Grace smiles; this is Martin at his best, telling stories, being funny, being kind. This is how he is with their kids, how he was when she met him.

‘He belonged to Hades; a big old guy with a long ginger beard. Hades lived in a special place called the underworld.’

‘That’s where people go when they die, right?’ Izzy puts a tanned elbow on the table. Martin nods and continues, ‘One day, Hades took Spot up to the world for a walk in the sunshine, where they met a pretty girl, picking flowers. She began playing with Spot, and they were having such a lovely time that Hades decided to take her back to his home.’

‘Oh, why?’ Izzy asks.

‘For Spot to play with, of course.’ Martin glances at her. ‘But then all the flowers in the garden began to die.’

Sorrel slips her thumb into her mouth, her eyes are very wide.

‘It turned out okay, though,’ Grace puts in. ‘Because—’

‘Her mummy took her home!’ Martin beams. ‘And the flowers started blooming again. The end.’ He bows to Sorrel, she smiles and Eve claps loudly.