Money wasn’t ever going to be an issue, so it was a possibility. But at the same time as the thought passed through my head, I also considered how bored I’d be, with my only job trying to keep a child permanently entertained, with no Leo to break up the monotony. No, that wasn’t ever going to happen, however much I adored her.

‘How was your day, then?’ I looked up at Ben, who was starting to prepare dinner. ‘You weren’t in when I called.’ I had tried calling several times but there had been no answer on the home phone. It always annoyed me hugely when I called and they weren’t in and we had rowed about it many times in the past.

I saw Ben’s shoulder tense. ‘Oh. No, we were out, sorry about that. We went to the park. Then into town to get a few bits of shopping.’

‘Was the park fun?’ I asked Elodie, who was starting to fidget on my lap.

She nodded vigorously. ‘Horsey.’

Ah yes, I remembered now. There were loads of great rides in that park but the only one she liked was a boring little rocking horse. Once she was on it, it was almost impossible to get her off. Any thoughts of me staying home full-time to look after her evaporated instantly.

‘Charlie,’ Elodie added, looking up at me as if I would know what she was talking about.

‘Charlie?’ I replied, already losing interest. ‘Is that the name of your little horse?’

Elodie frowned dramatically and shook her head. ‘No!’ she cried. ‘Silly Mummy.’

I wouldn’t have thought anything of her words, if I hadn’t seen Ben’s head shoot up out of the corner of my eye. I glanced up at him curiously. He seemed to be holding his breath and his whole body was frozen. ‘Who’s Charlie, then?’ I asked Elodie, as casually as I could.

She slid off my lap onto the floor and walked over to Ben, wrapping her arms around his leg and leaning against him nonchalantly, as he remained stock-still. ‘Daddy friend Charlie.’ She nodded slightly, pleased with her little speech. She was a brilliant talker for her age. She said her first words at just 8 months and hadn’t stopped gabbling since.

There was a long, tense silence as I waited for Ben to correct her or clarify what she had said but he didn’t. He just stood with his back to me, staring out of the kitchen window. I could see his reflection in the dusky light and he looked eerily pale. ‘Is Charlie a regular visitor?’ I asked eventually, trying to keep the quiver of anger out of my voice. I couldn’t believe that she had been here, in my house. That he had kept it a secret from me.

Ben took a deep, shuddery breath, before turning reluctantly to face me. ‘No. It was the first time. I didn’t know she was coming.’

There was a whiny, pleading tone to his voice that seemed to ignite the spark of fury within me again. ‘Don’t fucking lie to me, Ben! What sort of an idiot do you take me for?’