He looked at her sitting on the sofa. Her blonde hair was immaculate, her face seemed to be shining and she wore a little black dress and black tights, her legs crossed at an angle. She looked almost like a model, and astonishing for her age. He had been lucky to catch her all those years ago. The envy of all his friends.

‘Yes,’ he said quietly.

‘What do you think?’

‘I still love you, Kate.’

‘I still love you, too,’ she said eagerly.

‘I don’t know how I’ve managed without you.’

‘Nor you.’

‘But I just don’t think…I can’t see how we can pick up where we left off.’

‘No?’ She looked crestfallen.

‘Please don’t think I haven’t thought hard about this. So hard. I’ve remembered all the good times we had, and I do know that I still love you…’

‘But not enough?’

He paused, marshalling his thoughts. He wanted to explain clearly and fairly what he thought. To convince her that he was not just turning his back on what they had had. ‘When you left…I didn’t know whether I could carry on. I was so…well…bereft is the only word I can think of. I don’t remember life ever looking so bleak. We’d been together for so long. We were such a part of each others’ lives. Life without you was not something I’d ever contemplated. We’d been through such a lot together–all those years without money, then the children, and bringing them up. Going through all those traumas with Ellie and her boyfriends. And with Matt. You were so good with Matt and I was so…clueless.’

‘No,’ she protested.

‘Oh, I was. You were much more sorted. Took it all much more evenly. I got there in the end, but it was harder for me than it should have been. I didn’t do as much for him as I could have or should have, really. I’ll always regret that.’

‘But it’s all right now.’

‘It’s better. But I don’t think he really understands me, even though I try to understand him. I love him very much, but I do find it hard to tell him.’

‘So isn’t it worth it carrying on for them?’

‘Kate, you can’t build a marriage solely on a love of children. Especially not when they’ve left home.’

‘But you’ve said you still love me.’ She was leaning forward on the sofa now, willing him to agree.

‘I do. But I can’t go through it all again.’

‘Because I’m not worth it?’