‘He was causing a certain amount of jealousy among the other parents. I didn’t notice it until the woman at the next table told me what a brilliant dad she thought he was.’

‘You set her straight, right?’

I smile. ‘I didn’t, I’m afraid. She wanted to believe it, and I didn’t see the harm. Who knows, maybe she’ll go home, tell her husband about this amazing dad she saw, and he’ll up his game.’

‘I’m sure he’ll love the two of you for that. Did you find out any more about Will’s alleged vulnerability?’

‘No. To be honest, it completely slipped my mind, and it’s not the kind of conversation I think we could have had in front of Isaac anyway.’

‘You’re probably right. You do need to find out before you take things any further, though.’

‘Who says we’re taking things any further?’

‘You do, by the way you were looking at him when you arrived. You can spin yourself the “just friends” story all you want, but I know you, Tilly. He’s got under your skin, and the sooner you wake up and acknowledge that, the better.’

‘You’re just saying that because you want it to be true, so you’ve got on-demand childcare for Isaac,’ I retort with a laugh. ‘Anyway, it’s still too soon.’

‘You made one mistake.’

‘It was a pretty big one.’

‘But you have to move on. Let the idea sit for a while, and I think you’ll find I’m right. Shall we go and join the others?’

‘Weren’t we supposed to be making tea?’

‘I don’t think anyone’s that fussed, are they?’

The scene in the living room is unchanged from when we left. Will and Greg are chatting quietly, and Isaac appears to have fallen fast asleep in Will’s lap.

‘He can’t sleep now,’ Tash exclaims when she sees him. ‘He’ll never sleep tonight if he does. Isaac, darling? Wake up.’

It takes her a few goes before Isaac groggily opens his eyes, evidently disorientated for a moment before he realises where he is and smiles beatifically at Will.

‘Hop up,’ Tash instructs him. ‘I expect poor Will’s legs have gone to sleep. Why don’t I take you upstairs for a bath, hmm?’

‘Can Will come?’ He turns to face Will. ‘I’ve got lots of Thomas books upstairs. You can read to me before I go to bed.’

To my surprise, Will looks absolutely horrified by that suggestion. ‘Umm,’ he blusters. ‘I think bedtime reading is something only mums and dads do.’

‘But I want you to read!’ Isaac wails, clearly on the verge of tears. Will says nothing, but all the relaxed ease of the day is gone; he looks tense and anxious.

‘Will and I probably ought to go home,’ I tell Isaac, trying to defuse the situation.