Paula remained behind them, inexplicably hurt by both Anna’s assumption and the fact that Tommy didn’t seem to care. In front of her, Anna said something that made Tommy throw his head back with laughter. As a waiter appeared and led them through the restaurant, Tommy lifted a hand and rested it on the small of Anna’s back.

Paula trailed behind.

‘A garden salad,’ Anna said as she passed her menu back to the waiter, confident that the meal she had selected would be enough to sustain her.

She glanced at Paula beside her, at how the straps of her dress cut into the flesh on her shoulders. Yes, the salad was a good idea.

She waited without remark as both Tommy and Paula ordered the steak fillet, with extra butter and fries.

Fries! And not even of the slightly healthier sweet potato variety.

Paula gave her menu back and looked a little abashed. ‘I missed lunch because of all that sauna business,’ she said.

Anna nodded. She had missed lunch and breakfast too. Inside, she glowed with pride.

Paula touched her arm and leaned in. ‘Um, just to clarify, I’m not a cleaner, or a housekeeper. I don’t actually work, you know?’

‘Hey, guys!’ A sudden shout from Tommy made Paula jump, and both women looked up. ‘It’s the boys from this afternoon,’ he explained as he pushed his chair back. ‘I’ll be right back.’

Anna smothered a smile and turned to face Paula.

‘So, what did you want to do? When you were young, I mean?’

Paula stared back blankly. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, nobody aspires to be a trophy wife, do they? I mean, when you were at school, when you were younger, what career did you want?’

‘Oh.’ A pained look crossed Paula’s face and she froze in her seat.

‘Paula?’ Anna tilted her head, concerned.

Paula shook her head and uttered a dry little laugh. ‘It’s funny, my best friend said something along those lines to me just the other day. “Don’t lose yourself,” she said.’ She smiled wryly. ‘It pissed me off.’

Anna flinched. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.’

But Paula’s eyes were locked on something across the room. Anna followed her gaze to see Tommy immersed in his new group of buddies, back-slapping and handshakes all round as they congratulated themselves on how fantastic they all were.

‘A trophy wife,’ muttered Paula quietly.

Anna grabbed her hand. ‘Listen, I only just met you, right, but I can tell you’re so much more than a trophy wife.’ She gestured to the table. ‘Look at this. I would have been eating alone if you hadn’t been kind enough to invite me to dinner with you tonight.’

She patted Paula’s hand and laid it softly back on the table, pleased she had been able to find a compliment to pay the woman.