Jason nodded, glad they were on the same page about one thing, at least. But the financial situation they were in, which he accepted was squarely down to him and his business acumen – which was severely lacking, as pointed out repeatedly by her father – would remain a bone of contention between them. Jason had had no say in the matter when Robert had bought their house. He’d been grateful. He couldn’t keep being grateful though. Nor could he contemplate asking him for further help. He wanted him out of their lives as much as was possible, not further immersed in it.

Flicking the kettle on, Karla turned to face him, giving him a long, searching look.

‘So?’ he asked, guessing there was something she needed to get off her chest.

‘I am a bit annoyed, to be honest,’ she said, and hesitated.

‘About the toy boy?’ Jason eyed her questioningly. He wasn’t sure it was him who should be defensive on that subject.

‘No.’ Karla shook her head. ‘Although you did act like a bit of a dickhead.’

‘Oh.’ Noting her semi-amused look, Jason laughed uncertainly. ‘Cheers for that.’

‘Well, honestly,’ Karla sighed, ‘coming over all macho and proprietorial like that. I was only dancing with him.’

Jason nodded tightly. ‘I could see that.’

‘There was nothing to be jealous of, Jason.’ Karla blinked at him, astonished. ‘He was aged about two.’

More like twenty-two, thought Jason, though he didn’t bother to correct her. And muscular and not bad-looking – not that he was any judge of what women found attractive in a man. The thing was, he had felt jealous, possibly because, with the problems hanging between them, he and Karla hadn’t been near each other for weeks. The fact that he wasn’t the provider he should be for his family was exacerbating his sense of self-doubt, he guessed. But then, Karla dancing with a man was one thing – she deserved to have a little fun, especially with him being as miserable as sin lately – but her dancing up close and personal with the man? The way he’d been holding her, it had got to him. Looking his wife over, he noted again how good she looked in the short, strappy dress she was wearing. She’d been more effervescent tonight. More like the woman he’d met, laughing easily, relaxed. Letting go on the dance floor was probably good therapy. They should get dressed up and go dancing more often. Except, he’d just as good as sacked the babysitter.

‘So, it’s not me cutting in to extract you from the guy’s arms you’re annoyed about then?’

Karla rolled her eyes; wide, sharp, sparkling-blue eyes, which looked even wider with make-up and mascara. When had she stopped wearing make-up around him? When had he stopped noticing?

‘It’s my father.’ Karla dropped her gaze, her expression tentative when she looked back at him. ‘This thing between you and him.’