‘It’s no problem, Ange. We can go another time.’ Gareth made a sighing noise like a deflating beach ball.

‘Oh, and I’d prefer you didn’t let him use the mug I gave Dad.’

‘Tamsyn, it’s just a—’

‘No! It’s special and I don’t want it broken.’

She shook her head and sighed. ‘Let’s not do this now.’ Her words were delivered with a warning tone intended to remind me Gareth was a visitor in our house and that raising my voice and getting upset was unacceptable.

I didn’t understand why she didn’t tell him to get lost. I’d told her that was all she had to do a hundred times. She didn’t owe him anything and it wasn’t right he pestered her at work. It should be against the law for a boss to do that, to come on to her and make her feel awkward for saying no. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t see him for what he was. A horrible lecher. Why did she thank him for the flowers he bought her when they were clearly cheap and nasty and almost certainly from the bucket in the petrol station on the A30. He had a cheek. It wasn’t as if he’d never met my dad either. They were at school together. He knew what type of man he was. How could he think she’d ever be interested in a puny chip shop owner who wore a shiny blue suit with the sleeves rolled up like a ratty Don Johnson after she’d been married to a man like him?

‘I should go.’ Gareth reached for his jacket from the back of the chair.

My body relaxed a bit, triumphant that I’d been successful in chasing him out of our house.

‘No,’ my mother said then. She smiled at him. ‘I was looking forward to it. I can’t remember the last time I went out.’

I opened my mouth to protest, but she spoke before I had the chance to.

‘Tamsyn, can I talk to you a minute?’ She gestured to the door with a couple of sharp nods of her head.

I followed her out of the kitchen, shooting Gareth a look over my shoulder, a look that said: I see you. Don’t think I don’t.

‘Tam,’ my mother whispered, her mouth close to my ear. ‘I’m sorry about the mug. I wasn’t thinking.’

I wrapped my arms around my body and dropped my eyes.

‘Maybe you should keep it in your room. It’ll be safe up there. You can keep pens in it or what-have-you.’

I nodded as I bit back tears.

She rested a hand on my elbow. ‘I’d like to go out tonight. I know he’s not your favourite—’

I scoffed a little.

‘But it’s just a drink.’