Clementine replied: That’s my girl! Let me know how it goes. And please acknowledge my request about the trains! xxx

Penny couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, though. She knew she fancied Francesco, but did having bad sex mean that actually he didn’t quite fancy her?

‘He fancies you!’ Sharon said, over a 6 p.m. after-work tea.

‘Come here, you,’ Penny said to Mia, scooping up Sharon’s daughter to make her squeal in delighted giggles.

‘Auntie Penny! Again!’ pleaded Mia, as Penny tried to put her down. Penny reached for her once more, blowing a raspberry on her tummy that meant before she’d even stopped, Mia was begging for ‘again!’ once more. It made Penny’s heart grow twelve sizes, having a pudgy hand wrapped around her own in glee and being the one who made that noise of joy happen. She loved kids, and she loved her friend’s kids.

‘Let Auntie Penny drink her tea,’ Sharon instructed. ‘Can you draw her a picture of a unicorn, or a queen?’

‘Yeah,’ shrieked Mia, padding to her tiny table and chair in the corner of the kitchen. ‘I can draw.’

‘Good girl,’ whispered Sharon, bending to kiss her daughter on the head.

‘So, a rubbish shag.’ Sharon returned to the breakfast stools and Penny, who watched Mia bend over a blank sheet of A4 with her crayons. Sharon lowered her voice to say it, so Mia didn’t hear.

‘Yeah,’ sighed Penny. ‘I’m gutted.’

‘Can I ask you something?’

‘You can …’ said Penny.

‘Where are you at with having a family right now? Finding a surrogate? I thought all this was a bit of fun but you’re actually falling for him properly, aren’t you?’