Her question seemed perfectly simple to Kate and she resented Lara’s egotistical response, her fake lack of understanding just so she could be asked more about herself. ‘What are you doing here?’ Kate elaborated.

‘Staying over at Barney’s parents’ place. They’ve got a house right on the estuary. Awesome view from the bedroom.’ She turned and glanced at Barney and they shared a smug, private smile. Kate had to wait for them to stop, for Lara to revert her attention back to her. While she was waiting, she saw the guy who’d seated them, the potential ‘love of her life’, flirt with two suntanned girls in short skirts. They looked carefree. Childless.

‘They’re not there at the moment so we’re taking a long weekend. Bit of a celebration.’ Lara paused for effect. ‘I’m moving out to New York next week. Got a new job with the bank. Don’t know if you heard? I went into banking after graduation.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Anyways,’ continued Lara, ‘they’ve given me a position in their New York office.’

A stab of envy. Lara had the sort of freedom she couldn’t begin to imagine.

‘It’s in the World Trade Centre,’ continued Lara, ‘you know, the twin tow—’

‘I know what it is,’ interrupted Kate, two red spots appearing at the tops of her cheeks. I’m not stupid.

‘Course,’ said Lara. ‘So, how about you? Still at the garden centre?’

‘No.’ She was, in fact, working in a supermarket, but had no intention of saying this to Lara.

‘Oh, right. Did you end up going back to school then?’

Kate’s face burned. She could see Becky looking at her, troubled that her mother was clearly upset. Kate forced a smile. ‘Didn’t find the time.’

‘Oh,’ said Lara. ‘Shame.’

Kate willed her to go away, couldn’t stand the sight of her a moment longer. There was an awkward silence. Lara looked around for inspiration, and her eyes settled on her boyfriend. ‘Barney’s heading to New York, too. We met at work,’ she explained. ‘He’s joining me in October.’ She turned to him and said teasingly: ‘We’ll be the British version of Carrie Bradshaw and Mr Big.’

‘Are you a cafe slave?’ asked Becky, hopefully.

Lara turned, surprised, as if she’d forgotten Becky was there. ‘What?’ But her perplexed frown froze Becky into silence. Lara looked at Kate, suddenly keen to go. ‘Right, well, have a great holiday.’

Kate spoke through clenched teeth. ‘Thanks. Good luck with the job.’

Lara nodded and then she and Barney turned away.

‘Who’s that lady?’ asked Becky, as Lara led her boyfriend to the bar area, not the section by the restaurant tables, but around the back, out of sight. In twenty minutes’ time Kate would see her slip past again, out the door, without even looking back at her old friend.

‘Someone I used to know,’ said Kate, suddenly feeling a sense of loss for a life she’d never had.

‘Oh.’

Becky was watching her carefully, a look of consternation on her face, and Kate forced a smile. ‘Come on, shall we eat our chips?’