‘Do you ever wonder why Lionel didn’t fire us?’ says Joel, after Soph finished a story about when we’d got stuck in the bottle store. ‘We were all terrible at our jobs and we did things that I’m sure would have been grounds for dismissal.’

‘Back in the day, I think he was just desperate for any of his employees to stay the whole summer.’

‘What’s it like now?’ I ask.

‘It’s gone all upmarket.’ Soph pulls her blanket further round her. ‘It’s all wooden lodges. I could take you out and show you tomorrow, if you like?’

I pause for a moment. It might be one step too many down memory lane.

‘I need to head back early.’

‘Perhaps next time you’re down, because you have to come back; my mum could babysit Alfie and we could organise a night out like old times. Boy, do we need one. Don’t we, Brett?’

‘We certainly do.’

‘I mean, we have date nights but all we talk about is Alfie and how tired we are, which is lovely, honestly,’ she says, turning to Brett and stroking his cheek, ‘but sometimes I just want to wear my old outfits and go out, out.’

‘No complaints from me. I’ve been trying to get you into one of those little skirts for ages,’ says Brett, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

‘I’m always up for going out, out,’ says Douglas. ‘Just tell me when and where.’

‘I’m sure Mum wouldn’t mind babysitting Isla too.’ Soph looks at him brightly.

‘Oh, um, yeah, I could see if they want to come, but they’re going to be spending a lot of the summer with Suz’s mum in Suffolk.’

‘That’s a shame. Edie, you’ll have to bring Miles.’

‘Hmm, yeah, maybe.’ If today is anything to go by, I don’t think I could put myself through another evening with Joel. I’m definitely going to keep in touch with Soph and Douglas, but it’s clear to me we’re no longer a gang of four.

‘So that’s settled then, we’re going to do a night out in town.’ Soph claps her hands together.

‘It’ll be busy in the summer,’ says Joel. ‘You wouldn’t be able to get a seat in the pubs with all the tourists.’

It sounds like I’m not the only one who doesn’t want a repeat of tonight.

‘Ooh, grandpa,’ says Soph. ‘Then we’ll do it before August and all the hordes descend down here. Strike whilst the iron’s hot and all that. We’re busy next weekend, but how about the weekend after?’

‘I’m in,’ says Douglas, without hesitation.

‘I can’t.’ Joel finishes his drink. ‘I’m going to Cannes.’

‘Edie?’

With Joel away, I don’t hesitate. ‘Count me in.’