Anna’s eyes widened. ‘You heard about that?’

‘My friend Megan – she was wearing that spectacular silver dress – told me about a fight she’d overheard in the corridor. She’d had a few martinis by then, so it wasn’t completely clear who she was talking about at the time, but the penny finally dropped. I would have called you earlier if I’d worked it out sooner.’

Anna sipped her cappuccino and gave a one-shouldered shrug. ‘There was no need. You didn’t do anything.’

‘I’m surprised you didn’t tell me yourself.’

‘I did think about it. I just thought maybe that you’d…’

Teresa’s expression grew even more serious. ‘That I’d go along with Gayle for a quiet life?’

Anna nodded silently, feeling slightly ashamed, and looked down into her coffee.

‘Oh, Anna…’ Teresa leaned over, still pushing the pram back and forth, and rubbed Anna’s arm. ‘I must admit that has mostly been my strategy for dealing with Gayle since I got serious with Scott, but I’ve come around to the fact that my strategy needs some drastic revision. I don’t think we can let her get away with this stuff anymore. It’s not good for her and it’s certainly not good for us. What do you think we should do? Call a family meeting or something?’

Anna shook her head and swallowed. ‘I don’t think I’m ready to talk to her yet.’ She wasn’t sure if she would dissolve into tears or have another outburst, and neither option was desirable.

‘Do you want me to say something? Because I will!’

Anna smiled. She didn’t doubt that. ‘Not on my behalf. As much as Gayle is not my favourite person at the moment, she’s already lost one son. I don’t want her to cut you and Scott out too. Besides, I’m hanging onto the hope that this little man is softening her up a little.’

Teresa raised an eyebrow and Anna laughed.

‘Well, maybe only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.’ Anna said.

Little Spencer began to grizzle, and Teresa sighed. ‘I think I’d better get him in the car and see if a drive will put him to sleep for a bit.’ She picked up her handbag and slung it over the handlebar of the pram. Anna walked beside her as they headed through the sprawling garden centre and out to the car park.

‘Listen,’ Teresa said, as they reached her car. ‘Christmas is still weeks away, but you know how much of a planner I am, so humour me… Would you like to spend the day with me and Scott and this little monster? I can put Gayle and Richard off until Boxing Day.’

Anna stepped in and gave Teresa a hug. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly, ‘that’s a really lovely thought, but I’ve actually just booked a flight to Canada. I haven’t seen my parents for about eighteen months and I just feel I could do with getting away.’

Teresa nodded. ‘That sounds like an amazing idea. Just remember: if plans fall through, you know where to come.’