‘Done.’ What kind of a mother am I? Maisie spent her life second-guessing herself. She burdened herself with blame and shame. Without a father it was up to her to do everything right so that her kids didn’t grow up to be the ‘product of a broken home’. She’d read a lot about it, and the theory that a broken home meant broken kids was widely agreed upon. As far as middle-class academics were concerned, her kids were far more likely to end up pregnant, on drugs and/or in jail than those with two parents. She felt like crying but didn’t allow it to show.

‘And can we have McDonald’s?’

‘As if we’d have a girls’ day without McDonald’s,’ Maisie said lightly.

Valerie smiled. ‘All right, then.’

‘Great.’ Calm down, Maisie. Fred had blindsided her and she felt overwhelmed. It was a feeling she had experienced often but it didn’t make it easier to cope with. She didn’t consider herself an anxious person, she only worried when she had something to worry about. Fred Brennan was an attractive, kind, caring man, who deserved better than being stood up. How can I let him down without hurting him? Fred had been so good to Maisie. He had pretty much saved her, and she felt obligated to him even after all the years that had passed. Fred still cared for her and her kids. She didn’t want to ruin that.

Maisie started opening and closing her free hand as it hovered over the gear stick, earning herself a suspicious eyeing-up from Valerie. ‘Cramp,’ she lied. She was making a fist and letting it go, just like Lynn always told her to do. She wasn’t sure if it worked but there was no harm in giving it a go.

Valerie was silent for another second, then sniffed and rubbed her nose again. ‘Well, if you think a trip to McDonald’s means I’m happy about you dating the copper, it doesn’t.’

‘Didn’t think that for a second,’ Maisie said. No one in this car is happy about that, love.

‘And Jeremy’s going to lose it,’ Valerie warned.

‘I’ve no doubt.’

The last time he had thought Maisie was dating was when her American cousin had called without warning. Jeremy had slammed the door in Matt’s face, then shouted through the letterbox, ‘She’s not seeing anybody. She’s not able for it.’ He was merely repeating what he’d heard his mother tell well-meaning friends on the phone. Then he had closed the letterbox, walked down the hall and slammed the kitchen door, leaving a bemused Matt standing outside.