Teresa was right, of course, but Anna wasn’t sure this was going to do any good. Gayle hated her. She glanced across at her mother-in-law, who looked as if she’d just sucked a lemon. If she’d needed any confirmation, there it was.

‘Right, I’m going to go and get us all some coffees. Cappuccinos?’ Teresa took in both Gayle and Anna’s nods and added, ‘I’m going to leave this little man here rather than try to deal with a pushchair and a tray, and while you’re minding him, you two can talk. Okay?’

Anna looked nervously across the table at Gayle. Although this had to be the most uncomfortable coffee date ever, she knew Teresa was just trying to help, and she loved her for that. However, she didn’t want Teresa to endanger her own relationship with Gayle and Richard.

But when Gayle turned to smile at her grandson as Teresa walked away, Anna realized she needn’t worry. The balance of power had shifted in that relationship, thank goodness. From the warm look in Gayle’s eyes as she gazed at Little Spencer, she wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize being able to spend as much time with him as Teresa would let her.

Anna breathed out. Knowing that made what she was about to say easier. Even though she hadn’t come here prepared, it was suddenly clear to her what she needed to do. She couldn’t control what her mother-in-law did, whether she chose to hold onto this grudge or not, but she could stop being a coward and take responsibility for her own part.

After a couple of moments of staring at the acrylic tabletop, she took a deep breath and said, ‘I would like to apologize, Gayle. For what I said to you on Spencer’s birthday. I shouldn’t have said those things, and I’m sorry that I shouted at you in front of the rest of the family. It was wrong of me to do that.’

Gayle turned away from her grandson, looking slightly taken aback. ‘Th-thank you.’

‘And I want you to know that I didn’t bring Jeremy’ – Gayle’s eyes narrowed at the mention of his name – ‘to the party to upset you or cause problems. I had intended on bringing Gabi, but plans changed at the last minute and Jeremy stepped in. I… I know him from my salsa class.’

Gayle was watching her carefully. ‘But he’s more than that, this man. He’s not just a salsa partner?’

To deny this completely wouldn’t have been honest. ‘He was. We went out to dinner a few times,’ she said calmly. ‘But there’s nothing wrong with that, and at the party we didn’t do anything. We didn’t even touch each other. I wanted to be sensitive…’

Gayle huffed slightly. Her expression told Anna exactly what she thought about that. It was tempting to do what she always did – what everyone did – and go along with Gayle for a quiet life, but she knew she needed to draw a line in the sand now, or nothing would ever change.