He always used to be so active, so full of life. When he and Sasha first dated, he was a semi-pro boxer, a decent featherweight. He played football with his mates every Sunday morning, the odd round of golf; he went sailing and fishing. Kev loved a night down the pub, or going to gigs at the Cliffs Pavilion. But he didn’t do any of those things now. It was like he was becoming cast adrift from his family. When he wasn’t fixating on his cold war with their neighbour, he seemed to drift in and out of the house, going to work and then coming home to hide away in his ‘study’. He seemed intent on avoiding them all, even his own children.

And Sasha couldn’t remember when there had last been any activity between her and Kev in the bedroom department…

Her mother said, ‘I spoke to Stuart today.’

‘Who’s Stuart?’ Sasha was confused by the sudden change of conversation.

‘The nice man next door. I apologized for what happened. He was very shaken about it.’

‘Please stay out of it, Mum.’ The last thing Sasha needed was for Ursula to wade in making everything worse with their neighbour. ‘Maybe instead you could tell me what’s going on with you and Dad?’

Her mother blinked, as if she had no idea what her daughter was talking about. ‘You have something on your chin, what is that, a bruise?’

‘It’s ink. Don’t change the subject.’

Her mother rolled her thumbs in her clasped hands. ‘I think your father and I have come to the end of the road.’

Sasha stared, incredulous. ‘Fifty years of marriage and you’re just going to throw it all away?’

‘I feel like a new start.’ Ursula shrugged. ‘Better late than never.’

‘What does Connie say?’

‘I didn’t want to trouble her, your sister would be very upset.’

Sasha had to stop herself laughing. Her sister was completely oblivious to the emotional needs of anybody else.

‘I’ll leave as soon as I can,’ said Ursula. ‘I’ll find myself somewhere cheap to rent… or a hostel, perhaps.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, I don’t mind you being here.’

‘I do,’ said Denny, walking into the room. He opened the cupboard where they kept all the snacks and found it empty. ‘Where have all the crisps gone, and the biscuits?’

‘I’ve moved them,’ said Ursula. ‘According to the Mail, childhood obesity is a real problem these days.’

‘Denny, get to bed.’

When he left empty-handed, Sasha said, ‘Thanks for fat-shaming my son.’

‘I know you don’t want me here.’ Ursula’s eyes began to mist over. ‘And your father certainly doesn’t want me back home.’

‘Of course he does.’