‘Oh, it was. Dad’s gone up for a bath.’ Lizzy looked at the kitchen clock and squealed. ‘Oh my God, if I don’t get a move on I’m going to be late.’

‘Where you off to then?’

‘Oh, me and Joanie are going to a party tonight.’ She twisted her hair around her fingers. ‘I’m sure I mentioned it.’

‘You never said anything to me.’

‘Or me.’ Evelyn’s voice was low.

‘Well, it’s been arranged absolutely ages and Joanie is coming round for me at seven thirty. I really must go, Mum.’

Kate and Evelyn exchanged glances.

‘Well, I don’t remember you telling us anything about it. Where is this party?’

‘It’s near Joanie’s house, in the next street. I don’t know the number.’

‘I see.’

‘Oh, Mum, don’t say it like that. I must go! I want to go.’ Lizzy’s voice was high and near to tears.

‘No one has said you can’t go . . . yet.’

Dan walked into the kitchen in his dressing gown. ‘What’s all this racket then?’

Lizzy ran to him and he put his arm around her.

‘I want to go to a party and Mum won’t let me. Everyone will be there.’

‘Your mother never said you can’t go, Lizzy. That’s not fair.’

‘Oh, Gran, I want to go so much. And between you, you’ll talk me out of it!’

‘We will not! All your mother wants to know is where it is and who’ll be there!’

‘I’ll take her and pick her up, how’s that?’

Everyone looked at Dan. Lizzy kissed him on the cheek.

‘That’s settled then, I’ll go and get ready. Blimey, Mum, sometimes your job really goes to your head. I’m not a suspect, you know!’

Her voice was happy once more and Kate watched her run from the room.

‘Thanks, Dan. Thanks a bundle.’

He opened his arms wide. ‘What have I done? All I said was I’d take her and pick her up. There’s no harm in that, Kate.’ He counted off on his fingers. ‘First, we’ll know where it is. And secondly, we’ll be able to sort out a reasonable time for getting her home. Third, I’ll have a quick look at who’s there. I can’t see there’s any problem.’

He walked from the room and Kate felt an urge to jump on his back and tear his hair out. Not five minutes in the house and he was already countermanding her. Lizzy would be allowed to get away with blue murder while her father was around, it was always the same, then when he swanned off again, it would be left to Kate to pick up the pieces and get back some kind of equilibrium.

She sighed heavily.

‘He’s right, you know, Kate. She’s not a child any more.’