‘So, Edie, I don’t see a ring on your finger. Not married?’

I laugh at him. Trust him to have noticed that.

‘No, I’ve got a boyfriend, Miles; nothing serious.’

‘Best way to be.’

‘Says the married man.’ Soph raises an eyebrow before she gets down on the blanket with Alfie.

‘Hush now. So tell me, what else have you been up to since we last saw you?’

I fill in a few of the blanks, not that there are many, and then I turn the questions on him.

‘Soph was saying you live up in London? Dulwich, wasn’t it? Must be nice.’

‘Hmm. Yeah it’s OK.’

‘Nice place to raise kids. How old’s your daughter again?’

‘Seven.’ A small smile of pride creeps over his face.

‘I’m guessing it’s a good age?’

‘Kind of, although she doesn’t need me like she used to.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

He shrugs.

‘I bet you’re great with her though, lots of fun.’

‘That’s me, fun Douglas,’ he says, holding his glass out in a toast and downing the rest of his drink. He tops his up and then tops up mine. I didn’t even realise it was empty. He goes to top up Soph’s but she pulls hers away.

‘Do you remember that time we got drunk on a bottle of champagne after those guests left?’ I say.

‘Oh, I do remember.’ Soph cringes. ‘We stole it before housekeeping could get to it and then drank it on the beach. I think that was the first time I’d ever drunk it.’

We start to swap hazy memories from our time in the holiday park and the drinks keep going down nicely, which is just about helping to block out the thought of Joel arriving.

‘I’m going to make a cup of tea,’ says Soph, getting to her feet. ‘I can’t carry on drinking at that rate when looking after Alfie. Anyone want anything?’

‘Maybe some music,’ says Douglas.

‘Oh yes, I’ll make a playlist when the kettle’s boiling.’

Alfie starts to whimper when Soph goes and Douglas sits on the blanket and picks up a toy to give him.

He starts to fill me in on his hangover and what he was up to last night, and a few minutes later, Soph appears to the sound of ‘Don’t Cha’.

‘Oh, don’t. I still get PTSD from this song.’ Douglas puts his hands over his ears.

‘Come on, I bet you still remember the moves.’

Soph points a finger at him, but he’s having none of it. He uses Alfie like a human shield.

‘Someone has to do it with me. Edie, you remember it, right?’