We don’t have another wedding for three months, so Risky will be manning the fort in the office while I spend most of my time at mummy-and-me baby groups, walking around the local park pushing Tommy in a buggy, enjoying living in my house without my husband tapping away at my self-esteem, and eating doughnuts while I am still breast feeding and pumping out the calories that would otherwise land on my arse. I can’t wait. I shouldn’t feel this happy about splitting up with Michael before our baby is even five months old, but I do. I feel like I finally get to enjoy myself.

‘So how’s Michael doing?’ Risky asks, taking a huge sip of champagne. We got a bottle and she knows I’ll only allow myself a glass, because breast milk still feels like liquid gold and I hate wasting it.

‘He’s OK. He’s living with his mother. He’s going to take Tommy for a few hours a day while I’m still breast feeding. We’ll negotiate a proper plan after that.’

‘What do you think he’ll do?’

‘Honestly, I think he’ll live with his mother until she dies. He’s basically in a five-star hotel, getting every meal cooked, hot baths run every night, probably a lot of foot rubs.’

‘That’s weird, sounds like they are a couple.’

‘Yeah, well they kind of are. They can live together with their weird sex complexes. To the happy couple,’ I say, raising my glass again.

‘Are you OK, Beth? It can’t be easy,’ Risky says, her hand resting on my leg.

‘Yeah, I’m OK. He wasn’t who I hoped he was. I’d be way lonelier if I stayed with him than I ever could be on my own.’

‘How are you ever supposed to know if it will work? It’s such a gamble,’ Risky says, looking despondent. Just weeks ago heart emojis were flying out of her eyes at the very mention of love, now she’s witnessed truth beyond what her own heart can handle.

‘It is, but if you win, I reckon it would be the best prize in the world.’

Risky gets her phone out of her bag. She smiles as she reads a text message.

‘Adam?’ I ask her.

‘Yeah.’ She puts her phone down. ‘The last few weeks have changed a lot for me too, boss. I thought you and Michael were the dream. I thought Lauren and Gavin had everything. If you lot can’t work it out, what hope do I have?’

‘No Risky, you mustn’t think like that. Adam seems like a really nice guy.’

‘He does. But he’s Gavin Riley’s brother. I mean, he says they haven’t got on for years. That he’s always had a problem with Gav’s behaviour, and that he really isn’t anything like him, but …’