Saskia snaps back to the moment and looks at her daughter. Olivia is worth ten of her. The girl has somehow managed to inherit all of Saskia’s good qualities – strong principles, dogged perseverance, work ethic – and none of her bad. Not yet anyway. There’s still time for the FOMO and penchant for cocktails to kick in, she supposes. ‘Yes, honey?’

‘Do you think it’s because Martha doesn’t like me anymore?’

Rage rises and circles inside Saskia’s chest, like a lone shark. ‘Olivia, darling,’ she says, crouching down and taking her daughter’s hands in hers. ‘It is absolutely not because Martha doesn’t like you, okay? In fact, it has nothing to do with Martha, or Ava,’ she adds.

‘Well, what is it then? They can’t still be tired.’

Saskia sighs and straightens up. She opens the fridge and picks a half-full bottle of Sauvignon Blanc out of the door. ‘Beth is upset with me,’ she finally says, pulling a glass out of the cupboard (God, that needs a wipe-over) and pouring a generous measure. ‘I think this is her way of punishing me.’

‘That’s mean of her.’

‘Adults can be mean.’

Olivia screws up her face like a cartoon character, or more accurately, how everyone is born to express themselves before they realise life is a continuous game of poker and showing your hand must be avoided at all costs. ‘But I thought Beth was your best friend?’

Saskia smiles and nods, then takes a large sip. Poker face. ‘She is my best friend. We’ve had a little falling-out, just like you do sometimes with your friends. It’s not a big deal; I only told you so that you don’t worry about Martha. I bet we’ll have made up by next week.’

‘Do you promise?’

‘That we’ll be friends again?’ Saskia takes another gulp. As the initial hit of alcohol spreads through her limbs, the idea becomes more palatable. Maybe she should just apologise, curtsey even. Then Princess Beth will forgive her, and they can both move on. Life’s too short to hold a grudge, especially when the friend in question lives directly opposite, and their children are best friends.

‘And that Martha and Ava will be allowed to come for tea next Friday,’ Olivia goes on. ‘I really want to show them my elf on the shelf, and it’s the last day of term, so we might not get another chance,’ she pleads.