I stop as he freezes, feel his frustration as he pulls away from me. Turning to him, I see the silhouette of his arm as he rakes a hand through his hair. ‘Jason…’ I reach for him, but he moves swiftly, rolling away from me. Sitting up, he plants his feet on the floor and yanks himself off the bed.

‘Where are you going?’ I pull myself up as he plucks his phone from the bedside table and heads for the door.

‘Not far in my boxers,’ Jason assures me, his tone short, as if he would quite like to go as far away as possible.

‘Jason, don’t,’ I implore him. ‘I want to,’ I say weakly. Even I’m not convinced by the sound of my voice. ‘It’s just that I…’

‘Don’t,’ Jason finishes as I trail off, a weary edge to his tone. ‘I won’t be long,’ he adds, with a despairing sigh. ‘I just need some space… to think.’

‘Jase…’ I climb out of bed, but he grabs his dressing gown from the door and heads out onto the landing. I don’t want us to argue again – more than anything, I don’t want that – but nor do I want to lie here worrying about him being upset, which he obviously is.

‘Don’t go down.’ Reaching the landing as he gets to the top of the stairs, I implore him. ‘Can’t we just cuddle?’

Smiling wryly, Jason glances at me – and then quickly past me, towards Josh’s room, as his bedroom door squeaks open.

‘I heard a noise.’ Josh emerges, blinking nervously, and my heart sinks. He looks more like a startled owl with his glasses off than he does with them on. My ten-year-old boy. He doesn’t take after Jason, with his broad shoulders and toned chest. Josh is slightly pigeon-chested, if anything. Small for his age, he’s an easy target for the bullies at school, and picked on by his more robust sister, who, though just a year older, is growing like a beansprout. He’s vulnerable. Perhaps he is more like his father than I imagine. I don’t want to upset his little world.

‘It was just Daddy and me talking,’ I reassure him – a small lie. ‘Come on, let’s tuck you back up and then I’ll go and fetch you a drink.’

‘I’ll see to him,’ Jason says. ‘You’re tired.’ His eyes flick briefly in my direction, pointedly. ‘Come on, mate. Let’s go and make some hot chocolate. I’m not sleeping so well lately either.’

‘Sucks, doesn’t it?’ Josh says, with a world-weary sigh, as he trudges towards him.

‘And some.’ Jason smiles, wrapping an arm chummily around his shoulders.

I watch them go down, my heart beating a worried pitter-patter in my chest. Why can’t I oust the feeling that something is looming over us? Something that will blow our little family apart?