Michael smiled, his mouth full of stew. It was rare for his mum to cook something so delicious. Other than Christmas dinner, his old mum wasn’t known for her culinary skills. Breakfast had always been cereal and cold milk – winter or summer. She’d never once made him a packed lunch – just given him money to go to the local chippy. He never complained; what he didn’t have he couldn’t miss. But the Callahan family had opened his eyes and he liked the way they lived. Meals were something to be enjoyed in their house, something to be shared together as a family. It was an alien concept to him at first, but now he found that he looked forward to it. The way they talked about their day, and sat there when they were finished eating, just enjoying being in each other’s company, was something he wanted for his children.

‘It’s lovely, Mum. I was absolutely starving as well, so it’s much appreciated!’

Hannah was suddenly struck with pangs of guilt. Michael wasn’t averse to cooking for himself if the need arose. Eggs and bacon were his forte. He had cooked that for them both most Sundays after they had been to Mass. She had let him do it – eventually, she had even expected it. Now she was sorry. She had always prided herself on her feminist beliefs, even though, if she was truthful, she was just lazy. She had not even bothered to get up and see him off to school once he was old enough to look after himself. He had been quite happy so she had always felt that it was pointless both of them getting up when she was so tired. After all, she had always worked so they could live. She had expected him to do his bit from an early age, and he had never questioned her methods. Until now. Hannah realised her son was very old-fashioned in some respects. He liked having a decent meal waiting for him when he came home; he expected his laundry to be hung up in his wardrobe, crisply ironed. That was how things were done in the Callahan household. He didn’t even bother to give her a thank you for her trouble any more; he seemed to think it was expected of her. It was as if he had taken a step away from her; she was frightened that, if she wasn’t careful, he would step away from her for good.