“It’s poaching season,” Thom answered. “It’s easier to monitor the birds by drone than on foot. Oh, and leave Isaac alone, yeah? He’s a mate, he doesn’t deserve to be used for a fling.”

“You are a megalomaniac,” Nory blurted. “Concentrate on your own life and stop trying to dictate mine.”

Ameerah studied her French manicure and stayed wisely quiet.

“What is going on here, you two?” Sasha scolded over their rising voices. “Thomas, what Nory and Isaac get up to is none of your business.”

“It’s my business if I have to pick up the pieces when she swans back off to London.”

“Oh, shut up, Thom! Isaac isn’t some helpless victim,” snapped Nory.

“Why him? Why my friend? Can’t you just leave him alone?” Thomas asked.

“Thom’s asked Isaac not to get involved with me,” Nory said to her mum. “Apparently I’m not good enough for his friend.”

“Thomas!” Sasha looked shocked. “Is this true? Why on earth would you do that?”

Thomas visibly shrank as four angry women glared at him. Nory sat back and let him drown in the scorn.

“Thom, babe, that is a shitty thing to do, and you know it,” said Shelley.

Thomas tried to avoid his wife’s eye. “I’m just trying to stop people getting hurt,” he said through gritted teeth.

“That’s not for you to decide, is it?” said Shelley. “You can’t control everything.”

“I’m not controlling anyone.”

“Not much,” spluttered Nory.

“Enough!” Sasha’s voice whipped the air.

Nory and Ameerah became suddenly interested in their place mats while Thomas and Shelley looked around the kitchen, anywhere but at Sasha.

“Can we have one family meal without you two at each other’s throats? Thomas, stay out of Nory’s business. Grow up, the pair of you! This subject is now closed. There will be no more cross words for the duration of lunch. Thomas, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. And, Nory, you should know better than to bite every time your brother tries to get a rise out of you; you’re not five.”

With all those assembled chastened, Shelley and Thomas took their places at the table, and Sasha passed over the butter dish and six bowls. Arguments in the Noel household blew up and blew out just as quickly. It was their way; they were a feisty bunch and cross words were usually quickly forgotten. The old animosities simmering below the surface were harder to reconcile.

Nory’s dad came in and took his turn to say his hellos, completely oblivious to the ruckus of moments ago.

“Lovely to have you back where you belong, Ameerah,” he said.

“Right, that’s everybody in,” Nory’s mum called over the chatter. “Grub’s up!”