‘We’re all fine,’ Wendy replied. ‘Pissing with rain, so we’re trying not to think about our wicked mum who’s abandoned us for the sun and sea, and what’s that other word? Oh yes, sex, on a sunny Greek island.’

Penny felt herself flush uncomfortably, and was glad her daughter couldn’t see her.

‘Martin is his usual self with comments like “Oh is the dishwasher full?”, then leaving his dirty plates on top. Milo is mostly on Planet Game. Ben is making cards for his A level revision and then losing them. Flossie is mostly on Instagram making weird faces and using filters that make her look like a cross between Cara Delevingne and the creature from outer space. I, as usual, am wonderful in every way.’

Penny took a deep breath. ‘And Dad?’

‘Oh, Dad. The same. He makes Martin look like a new man, which I assure you is quite something.’

‘Has he said anything lately about me being away?’

‘I haven’t seen him much . . . ow, Floss . . . hang that coat up, it’s dripping all over the hall!’ Penny could suddenly picture Wendy’s busy and endearingly chaotic family life, where she was the lynchpin and lodestone of all around her, and felt a painful stab of nostalgia for that moment in time when you were needed and wanted.

‘Are you getting guilty? Don’t. As I said before, it’s good for him. Besides, last time I went round he was behaving weirdly.’

‘Weirdly? How?’ She tried to keep the panic out of her voice.

‘Well, you know how he gets his assistant to even help him send an email? He was actually sitting at the computer looking stuff up.’

‘What stuff?’

‘It could have been easyJet, or it might just as easily have been porn. He covered it up when I went in the kitchen and switched the PC off at the mains even though he would have lost anything he was looking at.’

‘He always does that,’ Penny agreed. ‘He doesn’t know how to log off properly. What made you think it was easyJet?’

‘It looked like he was writing things down so unless he was taking notes on different porn positions, which I think rather unlikely given his gammy knee, it could have been flight times. Maybe he’s planning a surprise visit. Anyway, what have you been up to? Go on, make me green with envy.’

‘Mostly painting furniture for the boathouses, so we can rent some more out. Why don’t you take a look on the Kyri Island website? You can give me some advice.’

‘You sound like you’re having lots of fun.’

‘Yes, I am. Except that Nell – you remember my friend Nell – her baby granddaughter has been taken ill and is in hospital.’

‘Gosh,’ her daughter commented in a tone of envy, ‘so your friends’ families are out there too. You didn’t mention that.’