They both skipped having a starter and ordered fettucine with sundried tomato and olive sauce for their main course. When Liv requested a bottle of Chardonnay that cost over sixty pounds, her mum’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Before she could protest, Liv quickly handed their menus back to the waitress.

Carol settled herself into her chair, as if it was a throne. “My friend Maureen has invited me to Benidorm,” she said. “I’m not sure I fancy it.”

“What? All those hot Spanish men and paella? You should go.” Liv couldn’t remember the last time her mum had been abroad. She’d usually went on coach trips in the UK, with three-course dinners each night and singers impersonating George Michael or Elvis.

“I’m not confident booking somewhere abroad, and there’s all that traveling, too,” Carol said.

“You could always fly first class and get extra legroom,” Liv said, without thinking.

Her mum stared at her. “Who do you think I am, Paul McCartney’s love child? I don’t have a money tree.”

“You don’t want to be uncomfortable...”

“I think I’ll stay at home, thank you very much. There’s nothing wrong with Blackpool and it’s cheaper. Are you and Jake going on hols this year?”

Liv shook her head. “I doubt it. He’s too wrapped up in the business. Sending Johnny off to uni is costing a fortune, too.”

“I bet you’ll miss him, love. But you and Jake will get more time together.”

Liv pictured her husband talking to his sister in the coat cupboard while she lay in the bath reading on her own. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” she said.

“Oh,” Carol said softly. “Things not too good?”

Liv sighed. “Everything else in his life comes first, before us. Jake’s got his agenda and I’ve got mine. They don’t seem to meet in the middle, or even meet at all.”

“You’ve been married a long time. It’s not all hearts and flowers.”

“It was for you and Dad. I’d love a relationship like yours.”

Carol ran a finger around the rim of her glass, thinking for a while. “Me and your dad had our issues, too,” she said. “You shouldn’t think everything was perfect.”

Whenever Liv thought back to her childhood, before her dad’s accident, the sun sparkled, flowers blossomed and birds sang. “Everything felt that way to me,” she said.

Carol was about to speak but their main courses arrived. She dug into her fettucine.

“How is it?” Liv said.

“Lovely, but I’m not sure it’s worth twenty pounds. You can buy a handbag in the sales for that.”

“Hmm, I think you’re right.”