‘Yes. I have some pictures to do, but mostly gearing up to a big job next weekend. I’m going to a wedding. Lauren Pearce, you know the … I mean, I don’t know what she is, model I guess? She’s getting married.’

‘Yeah, she’s marrying Gavin Riley. You’re going to the wedding? That’s crazy, how come?’

‘I’ll be retouching the photos on the day, so she can post them. It’s ridiculous, and not the kind of thing I would choose to do.’

‘Are you kidding? Gavin Riley, he’s seriously impressive. Wow, that’s really cool,’ Liam says, notably impressed.

‘Sure, maybe it is “cool”. I’m being paid well and that’s why I am going. And is he impressive or was he just born into the right family? It’s not like he set up the business, is it? Also, I’ve heard he is a relentless cheat. Which makes him awful.’

‘Harsh,’ Liam says, raising his eyebrows.

‘But true,’ I say, raising mine.

‘Maybe,’ he says, hovering by the door for a while. ‘If you’re working at the weekend, why don’t you take this afternoon off and come with us? We could grab food, go feed the ducks?’

‘No, I have too much to do. You two go, you’ll have more fun that way.’

‘More fun than us all being together? Oh come on Rubes.’ He always used to call me Rubes. I found it embarrassing at first, then grew to love it. It feels nice to hear it again. ‘You don’t hate me enough that we can’t spend one afternoon together as a family, do you?’ Liam says quietly, so that Bonnie, who is climbing into her buggy, doesn’t hear him. It doesn’t please me to think that the father of my child thinks I hate him. Hating someone and being angry with them are very different.

‘Come on Mummy, pleeeease,’ says Bonnie looking up at me. Her beautiful eyes begging.

I am dressed well for this weather, I suppose, with good coverage. I could just put some tights on under my green velvet dress. Liam knows not to touch me. I am desperate for this appointment, but my daughter’s happiness is somehow succeeding my need for personal comfort. It’s a new and complex emotion, but one I am surprisingly happy to pursue.

‘I could join you, I suppose,’ I say. This will, of course, mean I am hairy for the wedding. But I have made a great dress that offers full coverage.

‘Just give me a minute.’ I go upstairs. Tights, blusher, a red lip. I remove a few hairs from my chin and dab a little witch hazel on to reduce any redness. I put on extra deodorant as it’s a warm day. Back downstairs, both Bonnie and Liam look very excited.

‘You’re coming, Mummy?’ Bonnie asks.

‘I am,’ I tell her.