James was there now on the doorstep behind us, talking tersely to his partner in a low voice.

‘Come and get Freddie, please, James.’ I carried Effie towards the house, Alicia twirling across the gravel beside me, her pink dress bell-like as a fuchsia flower.

‘Look what Gran bought me,’ she crowed proudly. ‘It’s awesome, isn’t it?’

‘Awesome, sweetheart,’ I said. ‘Get Fred, James, can you?’ I drew level with the men. Liam glanced at me.

‘What the hell were you playing at?’ I hissed at him over Effie’s wispy head. ‘Are you mad?’

‘What do you mean?’ Liam was calm. ‘James asked me to collect the kids.’

Astounded, I spun round to my husband. ‘James?’

But he was already crossing the drive to the car, unbuttoning Fred’s seat belt, kissing his ruddy cheeks. Avoiding my gaze.

‘When did he ask you?’ I stammered. Helen Kelsey drove past the end of the drive and slowed, waving like a jolly schoolgirl. I hid my face behind my daughter’s plump body.

‘Ask him,’ Liam muttered.

‘I will.’ I was incredulous. ‘I can’t – I don’t—’ I gave up, began to walk inside. ‘I assume you’re coming in this time?’

‘I can’t.’ Liam shook his head. ‘I’ve got to get back to London.’

‘Really?’ I stared at him. ‘Why the constant rush?’

‘No rush,’ Liam said. ‘It’s just I spent the whole day collecting your children from Derby. I’ve got so much on. The club opens in three weeks.’

‘Right.’ I was nonplussed. ‘Why did you collect them, Liam?’

Liam dropped his chin onto his jacket for a moment, his short sandy lashes masking his eyes. ‘Ask your husband.’

James was by my side now, holding a grumbling Fred.

‘James—’ I began, but he looked at me imploringly. I realised with a jolt that he might have been crying.

‘Can we talk about this later, please, Rose?’ he muttered, so only I could hear. ‘Take Fred in, can you?’

I put Effie down and took my son from his father; I clutched the twins tightly to me and hurried Alicia into the house as I heard the men’s voices start to climb behind me.

‘So,’ I said as cheerfully as I could muster, watching my eldest child pirouette down the hall as I drank in the smell of Freddie, burying my nose in his silky hair, ‘how about fishfingers and chips and Fab lollies for tea?’

* * *

Clamped to the phone, James studiously avoided me whilst I fed and bathed the children. He and Liam had argued out on the drive for a while, and then they’d disappeared briefly into the studio. By the time I’d sorted everyone out, Liam had left.

I’d just put the twins to bed and was about to curl up with Alicia and watch The Sound of Music yet again when the doorbell rang.