‘By last summer Mark and I hadn’t had sex for nine months. I remember thinking to myself at the time that it was the longest I’d gone without sex since I was a teenager.’

‘Are you blaming yourself? Because if you are we’re going to have words. It’s totally normal for couples to have dry spots when they’ve been married as long as you two have. Some couples stop shagging completely. It’s no excuse for an affair.’

‘I know. And Mark didn’t put any pressure on me to have sex. He didn’t seem that bothered either, if I’m honest. He was tired, I was tired and suddenly nine months had gone by.’

‘Well, it happens, doesn’t it?’ She shrugs. ‘Sorry, that doesn’t really help, does it?’

I force a smile. ‘Talking to you does help but there’s no point analysing it to death.’ I glance at the kitchen clock.

‘Shit.’ Liz glances at the clock too. ‘Caleb’s motorbike is in the shop and I said I’d pick him up from work and give him a lift to the mechanic’s. Are you going to be all right?’

When I nod she says, ‘Whatever happens you’ve always got me. Come and stay at mine if you want. The box room’s a mess but you’re welcome to share my bed if you don’t fancy the sofa. I promise not to poke you in the back with a hard-on in the middle of the night.’

‘Thank you.’ I reach for her hand and squeeze it. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘Well, you’d probably drink less,’ she says and laughs. ‘Seriously, Claire, if there’s anything you—’

She’s interrupted by the sound of a car drawing up outside the house. The familiar sound of late-nineties drum and bass drifts through the window and then stops.

We share a look.

‘It’s Mark,’ I say.

Chapter 49

If my husband is surprised to see me sitting at the kitchen table after two nights at Mum’s house he doesn’t let on. He gives me a nod as he steps into the room. He is dressed in a dark blue suit with a white shirt and a grey-and-white striped tie. His black shoes are shiny. His hair is neatly brushed back from his face. The only thing out of place is the position of his laptop bag. Normally he wears it casually slung over one shoulder. Today he is clutching it to his chest.

Liz’s eyes narrow as he walks into the kitchen.

‘All right, Mark?’ she says in a tight voice.

He doesn’t acknowledge her. ‘Claire, could I talk to you? Alone.’

Liz looks at me and raises an eyebrow. So many emotions in one look – irritation, anger, worry – one wrong word from my husband and she’ll go off.