Judith comes into the kitchen, greets Sam, and begins to talk to Max about some drama with the family in Oxford. Max stands up and they move back towards the bedroom. Cara smiles at Sam.

‘Families, eh?’ she says. ‘Fancy a stroll? Oscar hasn’t been out for a proper walk yet.’

‘I’d like that,’ he answers at once.

He feels slightly de trop with the discussion going on in the passage and he’s aware of a different atmosphere now that Judith’s home. The easy, laid-back feeling has evaporated and there’s a faint tension.

‘Good,’ says Cara. ‘I’ve got to post this card and then we’ll take him round the creek and up to the Point. We don’t want to bother with cars, do we?’

She calls to Max and Judith, telling them her intentions, and she and Sam go downstairs, followed by Oscar. Sam’s wondering whether to invite Cara to The Keep but can’t decide if it looks like he’s assuming that she feels as he does. On previous occasions when he visits, Max usually takes him sailing and to the pub. He doesn’t really know Judith very well and it might be wrong to assume that Cara doesn’t get on well with her sister-in-law, although she’s hinted once or twice that it’s not an easy relationship. Better wait to see how the weekend goes. He follows her out, clips on Oscar’s lead, and they set off together.

Judith hears the door close behind them and she moves back into the kitchen. This is the perfect moment to tell Max her new plan. A new series of problems in Oxford, Freya’s mother needing to get back to her work and her own responsibilities: the timing is right.

‘There always seems to be so much drama going on,’ Max is saying, impatiently. ‘I can’t see why Paul being on a lecture tour is such a big deal. I used to go away to sea and leave you coping with babies and moving house.’

‘I wasn’t working,’ Judith reminds him. ‘We moved around too much for me to keep a job. But I’ve been thinking, Max. It would be good to be more involved with the children. I’m not just talking about childcare, I’m talking about spending time with the whole family. I’m thinking we should sell up here and move to Oxford.’

He is staring at her in amazement. She can see dismay behind the shock and she stiffens herself as if she is preparing for battle.

‘Are you serious?’ he asks. ‘I thought you were happy here.’