‘Why? Why would you do that?’ Tamsyn’s eyes welled with tears. ‘Isn’t it enough you take up all Mum’s worrying so she doesn’t have time for me? Now you have to steal my only friend away too?’

Angie inhaled sharply at Tamsyn’s words. She wanted to tell her it wasn’t true, that she had time for both of them. She moved to her daughter’s side and reached out to her, but Tamsyn swiped her hand away.

She stepped closer to her brother, head angled upwards so she was looking him in the face. ‘I know what you’re up to, you know. You don’t want me there, do you? You want the house for yourself. It was you who made up those lies about me and Max, wasn’t it? You who told Eleanor.’

‘What the fuck are—’

‘So I’d be out of the way. So you could screw Edie without me bothering you.’

Angie’s stomach seized.

‘Oh, Jago. No.’

He turned on her, his anger burning through his earlier softness. ‘Oh, Jago, no what?’

‘You and the Davenport girl? Tell me that’s not true.’

He didn’t reply. Tamsyn crossed her arms again and leant back against the worktop, her rage seemingly subsided and in its place a resigned despondency.

‘Of all the girls you could go with?’

‘Why do you even care?’

‘I care because that family is a bloody nightmare. I don’t want either of you to have anything to do with any of them. And, if you want the truth, once Mrs Davenport has calmed down and got this stupid nonsense about Tamsyn out of her head – which, Tamsyn, of course Jago had nothing to do with – I was hoping I might get my job back.’ She glanced at her daughter who glowered and kicked the floor with her heel. ‘Or at least get paid what they owe me. But if you and Edie are—’ She broke off and put her hand up against her forehead as a sudden panic grabbed her. ‘Christ, is she even old enough?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘Seventeen.’

‘That’s one thing at least.’ She sighed. ‘But why her?’ She knew as the words left her mouth that it was a ridiculous question. As if teenagers ever thought these things through. ‘God only knows what that woman will do when she finds out.’

‘I was hoping she wouldn’t.’ He threw Tamsyn a filthy look.

‘People always find out.’

‘So what if she does?’

‘She’ll hit the roof.’

‘Because I’m not good enough?’

Angie stared at him. She didn’t speak. It was only a hesitation but it was enough. His face hardened and he shook his head.

Of course you’re good enough.

That’s all she’d needed to say.

He snorted bitterly. ‘Fuck this,’ he breathed. Then he stormed out of the kitchen, punching the wall with his fist as he left.