‘But even if she did want money,’ Harry went on, sounding braver all of a sudden, ‘then yes, of course I would give her that, if she asked me for it.’ He gazed around at them in turn, defying anyone to interrupt. ‘Because the bottom line is: I am her father and we’ve all got to get used to that fact. I’m sorry if you don’t like me saying so, but there we are. I’ve apologized to your mother, I’ve apologized to the four of you. I don’t know what else you want me to say.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Her name is Frankie, by the way. And that’s all I know about her, except that she must be about thirty-four.’

About thirty-four. Nobody said anything for a moment, and Paula guessed they were all quickly working out the maths. Stephen was thirty-eight. Had their dad really been so shallow as to have an affair while their mum was doing her best to cope with four young children under the age of ten? Paula herself must only have been about seven, she calculated. Seven, and preoccupied with horses and dogs, gymnastics club and Brownies. Bile rose in her throat at the thought of her dad carrying on behind everyone’s back. Sneaking off to his bit on the side, then coming home to be daddy and read adventure stories to them at bedtime. It was repulsive. Repugnant. It was unthinkable!

‘Clearly this is a bit of a shock, to all of us,’ said Dave, the erstwhile peacekeeper, while the others sat in horrified silence. ‘Dad included, if you had no idea about this . . . this Frankie person.’ He said the word as if it tasted strange in his mouth, as if worried that by mentioning the woman’s name it might conjure her up in front of them. ‘But you two are still going on holiday, right?’ he went on, addressing his parents. ‘Maybe a break is what you need: get away from it all, have some space.’

What – and sweep the whole sorry saga under the carpet, like it never happened? Paula thought in disbelief. How was that going to work? If it had been her and Matt in this situation, a holiday would be the last thing on her mind. She’d have been more inclined to shove him off the nearest cliff.

Her brothers disagreed with her, apparently. ‘Yes, absolutely,’ John was saying in a similarly bracing Keep Calm and Carry On manner.

‘Bit of sunshine, a chance to talk . . .’ Stephen added encouragingly.