She sighs. ‘I asked Bea to come, because I thought you might be upset, and I didn’t know if you’d bring Noah along. Oh Rosie.’ She hugs me.

‘What do you mean, you thought I might be upset? You didn’t know …’

‘I just had this feeling that your dad might pick this moment to finally burn his bridges. He’s a coward, Rosie. I’m sorry but he is.’

‘Burn his bridges?’ I know he’s a coward. I’ve never really wanted to accept it, or say it out loud. But those texts? I mean, really.

‘Shall we sit down?’

‘Mum, tell me!’

‘I forced him into a bit of a corner if I’m honest. I know it’s underhand, but …’

‘Mum! What’s his excuse this time?’

‘Oh Sally, so pleased you could come! Catch up with you in a moment!’ Mum stops for a moment to hug her neighbour, and I wait, worried. ‘Where was I? Oh yes, he got Serena pregnant.’

‘What?’ Whatever I was expecting, it was not that.

‘Serena. You know, the when in Rome girl.’

I didn’t know she knew about Rome.

‘But, I got her email for you and—’

‘Oh, I already knew, darling, or I wouldn’t have been so keen to invite her, would I?’

I’m pretty sure I’d have fallen over, if it hadn’t been for Noah’s hand on my waist. He kind of neatly caught me, and now I seem to have wilted against his side. ‘Oh my God, she’s pregnant and you knew. And you invited her to your anniversary party? And he’s leaving us for Serena?’ Are you mad? I could have added, but I don’t.

‘He’s not leaving us.’

‘Not?’ I manage to separate myself a bit from Noah.

‘Well no, that isn’t his style, dear. He refused point-blank to do that when she asked. Poor girl.’

‘What do you mean “poor girl”? Mum!’

‘Well she is a poor girl; she’s young, naïve, like I was once. He’s never going to go, Rosie,’ her tone is soft, ‘the next woman might not be so forgiving, and then he wouldn’t have the security he wants.’

‘But you can’t … oh Mum. Why did you invite them all if you knew …?’

‘So your dad could pick, out in the open. In front of everybody who matters to him.’

‘What?’ I am flabbergasted, is she stricken with grief? ‘How can you make him pick … even though you know he’ll pick you.’

‘Oh Rosie, I’m sorry.’ She strokes my hand, not looking at all upset, then looks at Noah as though she expects him to understand something I’ve missed. ‘I’m not one of the choices, darling. I am off the menu and he’s not even had the decency to turn up so I can have my moment!’

I frown.

‘Honestly, that man would never let me win. Not once! I want them all to know who he is. It’s always been on his terms, and just for once I wanted it to be on mine.’ She sighs. ‘He won’t even let me have that. It’s not about revenge though, it is about getting a decent settlement! Now come on, it’s a party, off you two go, have a dance!’