‘I just wanted to talk to you… Hear your voice.’

There was an honesty about the way he said those words that brought a lump to her throat and she instantly hated herself for having doubted him. ‘Brody… I think that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.’

‘It’s true,’ he said, a puzzling hint of resignation in his tone.

She looked down at her feet. She could hardly see the details of her shoes now. They were just blurry grey shapes in the darkness. All the awkwardness she’d been feeling earlier drained away. They were back in their bubble, a unit of two.

‘I don’t know what I’d do without you,’ she replied. ‘You’re one of my best friends.’

There was a slight noise at the other end of the line. She hoped it was him huffing slightly as he smiled. At least, that’s what it sounded like. ‘Good,’ was all he said. But for Anna, it was enough. She smiled too.

‘Oh! I almost forgot! I need to ask your advice about something. Again. Sorry!’

She heard his soft laughter properly this time. ‘Don’t apologize. The only other person who gets the benefit of my advice is Lewis, and I’m not sure he’s very appreciative. What’s happened?’

‘You know I said Teresa had invited me to her birthday party in a couple of weeks?’

‘Mm-hmm…’

‘Well, I was chatting to her about it earlier today. I had assumed it was going to be mostly friends – especially as she said she wanted to make up for the wild bash she should have had when she turned thirty but didn’t because she was too depressed about it. Well, it turns out I was wrong. It’s going to be a family party, everyone from all generations invited, and that means—’

‘Ah. I see… Gayle.’

‘Exactly,’ Anna replied. ‘I’m dreading it. I haven’t seen her since the day I called her a cold-hearted bitch. But I can’t not go. I can’t punish Teresa for what Gayle did, especially as she and I have been getting along so well recently.’

Ever since she’d visited when Little Spencer (as everyone now called him) had been born, something had shifted in her relationship with Teresa. They’d always liked each other, but now they had a bond. Teresa felt like… well, family.

‘I think you’ve answered your own question,’ Brody said.

Anna sighed and brought her feet up onto the seat, tucking one under the other. ‘I know. But what am I going to do about Gayle?’

‘Do you have to do anything about her?’

Anna pinned the corner of her lip with her teeth. Did she? The idea that she might not was oddly liberating. ‘You’re saying, just go – no apologies, no explanations – and ignore her?’

‘I was thinking just be cordial, but it’s up to you.’

‘Don’t react, in other words?’

He laughed. ‘Bingo.’

She slumped forward onto the table, supporting her head with one hand. ‘Why do family gatherings have to be so exhausting? I’m already dreading Christmas, even though it’s still more than three months away, and don’t even get me started about New Year’s Eve!’