‘I’ve got a couple of tampons in my bag. You can use them to plug yourself up, if you like?’ Kim’s eyes met Toni’s and did not waver. At that moment Shirley came into the room, putting an end to the tension, closely followed by Janet.

‘Alright, girls?’ Kim said, flopping back onto the sofa.

‘Yes, thanks,’ Shirley replied, letting the cotton tote bag slip off her shoulder and fall to the floor. ‘Sorry we’re late. Someone wasn’t at home when I got there to pick them up!’ Shirley pointed a chubby finger at Janet, who hid a little laugh behind her long, thin, bony hand.

Marion returned and handed the wine glass over to Kim while offering everyone else tea.

‘Can I join you?’ Shirley grinned, showing off a mouthful of perfectly straight, large white teeth.

‘I’ll get you a glass.’ Marion pretended to roll her eyes. ‘Tea for the rest of you?’

Everyone nodded, and Marion returned to the kitchen to get on with making a pot of tea.

‘I’m glad we’re not the last ones,’ Shirley said, blowing her dyed red fringe off her face. Her cheeks were flushed and she appeared more flustered than normal.

‘Everything OK, chick?’ Kim asked.

‘Yes. Just hot.’ Shirley smiled warmly. ‘The weather is really close, isn’t it?’

‘They say a storm is coming,’ Kim added.

‘Something else to look forward to then,’ Toni mused.

‘What do you mean by that?’ Kim bit back.

‘Oh, nothing. Really, you are so sensitive sometimes.’

‘I—’ Kim began, but Marion appeared just in time to put a stop to the minor dispute, preventing it from escalating.

‘Play nice, you two,’ she said in a low voice, as she placed the steaming hot teapot on a coaster on the coffee table and handed over two wine glasses to Kim.

The room fell quiet. Marion had always been able to shut down any trouble within the group. People liked her and respected her, and they listened to her opinion. She was the unnamed mother of the club.

‘Tut, tut,’ Marion said, looking down at her gold wristwatch, ‘they are late.’

‘Shall we start without them?’ Janet spoke with a slight lisp, which made any word she said sound like a gentle whistle. Her long, pale fingers gripped the designated book so tightly that her knuckles were white. She looked twitchy and unsettled, balancing on the arm of the sofa where Shirley was sitting, sinking into the pile of cushions.

‘Yes. Let’s.’ Marion took up her position in a beige chenille reclining armchair. ‘So, who wants to begin?’ she asked, as Kim unscrewed the cap on the wine bottle and poured two very generous glasses.

‘Chin-chin,’ Kim said, smiling sarcastically at Toni, who turned her head away and put her nose in the air.