And it was true. She’d never really thought of Frankie as beautiful, she’d known her for too long, but this evening she had a lustrous quality. Her skin glowed and her eyes shone; her lips were full and glossy red; her hair gleamed. She was wearing leather trousers and a yellow top with a plunging neckline; around her throat was an amber pendant, smooth as an egg.

‘Thanks,’ said Frankie. She put her hand around the amber and smiled.

‘So you’re OK?’

‘I’m well. Yes.’

‘Good,’ said Irene. ‘I’m so glad.’

‘Frankie?’

‘Mmm.’

‘You’re wearing my present.’

‘Of course. All the time. You didn’t need to give me something so wonderful, you know.’

‘You’re wonderful. I keep thinking of last night.’

‘Me too. I wear the shirt you left behind in bed. I can smell you on it.’

‘Oh God.’ For a brief moment he closed his eyes. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘It’s because you’re here.’

‘I wish I could touch you.’

‘Mmm. Me too.’

He moved a bit closer so their hips brushed. She stared at him and bit her lip.

‘We could go upstairs,’ he said. He let a thumb touch her thigh.

‘You’re mad. Irene’s a few feet away. Your kids …’

‘I know; I feel mad. I want to be mad. Just for a minute.’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘I’ll die if I can’t be with you soon.’

‘I’ll wait in all day. You don’t need to tell me when you’re coming. I know it’s difficult for you to get away. I’ll just stay in bed, in your shirt, and wait for you to come to me.’

‘Jesus,’ he said. ‘Oh Jesus.’

‘Happy New Year,’ they said to each other, dropping the circle of hands they’d made for ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and turning to each other. Children, teenagers, adults; friends who had known each other for years.

Irene hugged Clem and Sasha and Aggie, who was wild with chocolate and tiredness, and then put her hands on Adrian’s shoulders.

‘Happy New Year,’ she said softly.

‘Happy New Year to you.’

‘We’re all right, aren’t we? I know things have been difficult recently. But we’re going to be all right.’

‘Of course we are.’ He grinned wildly at her, put his hands heavily on her waist, clumsily pulled her towards him.

They kissed each other on the lips.

Irene turned towards Adrian in bed. He was lying on his back, with an arm over his eyes, but she could tell by his breathing that he wasn’t asleep. For a few moments she lay looking at him by the light from the hallway. Then she took a deep breath and propped herself up on an elbow, put a hand on his stomach, kissed his neck. He didn’t stir.

‘Adrian?’ she said.