‘Bye you two,’ said Irene, bending down. She kissed both of the girls on the cheek. ‘Thank you for helping to look after Katherine.’

‘Who are you?’ said Emma.

‘What?’

‘We don’t know who you are.’

‘I’m Irene.’

‘Yes, but are you our aunt?’

‘No, not your aunt though I can see how you’d think that.’

‘Mom said you were kind-of an aunt.’

‘Really, I’m your half-sister.’

They stared at her, uncomprehending.

‘Ask your father,’ she said, giving up. ‘But not now. Tomorrow.’

Everyone had gone and the candles had burned down – only a few of them still guttered in the jars, giving out their last stabs of light. Now it was just the eight of them in the garden again, surrounded by the debris of the party and relaxed with each other.

‘The ends of parties are always the best,’ said Juliet. ‘This is nice.’

‘Mmm,’ said Mary, stretching her arms above her head. ‘But I’m going to bed now.’

‘I’ll move Katherine out of your way,’ said Lorrie.

‘We’ve got to put the bloody tent up again.’

‘In a bit. I’m going to have my forbidden fag now.’

‘Who wants something else to drink?’

‘God, not me,’ said Juliet. ‘I’m floating as it is.’

‘How about some of that champagne we brought with us?’ said Neil.

‘OK.’

Neil opened it and shared it carefully out.

‘My turn to make a toast,’ he said, raising his glass. ‘Good luck to all of us.’

‘Good luck,’ they chorused, looking around at each other. Mickey stared across at Irene, and she shivered, suddenly cold in her skimpy dress and bare feet.

‘Here. Have my jacket.’ Luke was beside her.

‘I’m fine.’

But he draped it over her shoulders, pulling it close around her.

‘Hello, darling,’ she said in a low voice, standing at the garden door with the phone while on the floor behind her Neil and Lorrie lay flung out on the mattress together, limbs entwined, half covered by a thin sheet, and on the sofa Katherine mumbled in her sleep. The standard lamp, draped in a towel to soften its light, shone on her hair that was matted on her forehead and on her shiny pink cheeks. ‘Hello, my love.’

‘Mummy?’

‘Is it still the middle of the day there?’

‘Mummy. Your voice is all echoey.’

‘Can you hear me?’

‘I can hear you twice.’

‘Are you having a lovely time? Is everyone all right?’

‘Mummy?’

‘Yes.’

‘Aren’t you at home?’

‘I’m with your uncle Jem.’

‘Who’s feeding my hamster then?’

Irene gave a relieved giggle. ‘Kadija. She promised to take great care of him and hold him every day so he doesn’t get wild.’

‘Will he remember me when I get back?’

‘Of course. He might be a bit shy at first. Listen, how is everyone?’

‘Fine. Will I have long before I start my new school?’