Kate walked past the display to some cheaper phones, near the back. She picked one up. It was all right; it made calls. She glanced back over her shoulder at the shining touchscreen of the iPhone. It could actually connect to the Internet! She remembered her careful savings; the ten pounds a month she’d put away for Becky’s university fees had grown a bit over the years. There were some girls there in the shop, dressed in the uniform from Becky’s school. They were picking up the phones and playing with them. A salesman was hovering attentively, as one of the girls negotiated a purchase. Then Kate saw who it was: Julia’s daughter, Violet. She watched as Violet got her purse out of her bag and pulled out several twenty-pound notes. The phone was put into a plastic bag while Violet’s friends gathered round, a captive audience. Then Kate watched as they left the shop, arms linked, heads held high, oblivious to anything other than their own self-absorbed amusement.

Kate sighed. She looked again at the iPhone stand, but it was impossible. The university money was untouchable, that was what she’d always promised herself. It represented Becky’s future, a future that was going to be very different to her own.

No, she just couldn’t afford an iPhone. If some people tipped when they were given good service then maybe things might be different, she thought darkly, but pushed those thoughts aside and bought a simpler model.

‘Oh, Mum, I love it!’ exclaimed Becky, throwing her arms around Kate’s neck.

‘Happy Birthday, Becky,’ said Kate, her voice muffled under the hug.

She’d watched carefully for a shadow of disappointment in Becky’s eyes as she opened her gift, and had found none, but still couldn’t help thinking Julia Cromwell had ruined her daughter’s birthday. A ridiculous thought, she knew, but ever since lunchtime, a cloud had settled over Kate that she just couldn’t shift.

She served up the tea – Becky’s favourite. Her daughter grinned as the plate was set in front of her.

‘I love you, Mum. And not just because of the chips.’

Kate smiled as they got stuck into their burgers and fries. ‘Good day at school?’

‘Yeah. Got a bit of homework though. Algebra. I’m a bit stuck . . .’ Becky looked up at her mother and Kate felt herself tense.

‘Not sure I’ll be any good to you.’

In fact, Becky was learning stuff that Kate found was way beyond her own ability. Not just in maths, but in other subjects too. It embarrassed her that she couldn’t keep up, couldn’t help her daughter. Kate saw Becky’s crestfallen face and her stomach twisted. She forced a bright tone. ‘What about one of your friends at school? Claire?’ Kate glanced across at the box on the table. ‘You can phone her!’

Even as she said it, she felt as if she was fobbing Becky off, but her daughter knew better than to push and so she nodded and said she’d call Claire after tea.