Given what he was asking, Tess didn’t think Conor was in the best position to lay down terms and conditions. She was too tired to argue, however, so she assured him that she’d ring a taxi and see them shortly.

What she hadn’t counted on was Nina getting stroppy. ‘Why can’t I come with you?’ she asked.

‘He didn’t say.’

‘That means there’s no reason. He just didn’t expect us to be together.’

‘I suppose.’

‘I’ve missed so much,’ said Nina. ‘Please don’t exclude me.’

Tess looked at Nina’s red-rimmed eyes and concave cheeks. They’d spent a large part of the evening discussing the most intimate details of their lives: one talking about her biological father being a violent criminal, the other about the ugly disintegration of her marriage. They’d talked about their mothers’ lives and their own lives.

‘I hate having so many regrets,’ Nina had said.

‘Only very shallow people regret nothing,’ Tess had replied, ‘or so I like to think.’

‘What’s wrong with shallow? I’m all for shallow.’

They’d laughed then, and the tension between them had started to unwind. Tess couldn’t shunt these past few hours aside. She couldn’t say, ‘My other friends have called, so I’m off now. See you in another twenty-five years.’

‘You know what, Nina?’ she said. ‘You’re dead right. Let’s tidy ourselves up and find out what’s going on.’

From the back of the taxi, Tess watched as young people flitted about, the weather no impediment to their revelry. Icy rain tapped against the windows, and the car made a skeetering sound as it splashed through puddles. The sky was a yellowish grey. The girls wore sequined party dresses, their ankles wobbling from the combined effect of strong drink and spike heels. Two or three sported antlers. Tess wondered if they went out every night during December. She hoped so. For many years, she’d done the same. Oh, to have their energy.

‘They’ll catch their death, those girls,’ said Nina, with a smile.

When they got to the apartment block, Tess played it safe. Best not to let Tom and Conor know that Nina was with her.

‘It’s me,’ she said.

‘We’re on the first floor,’ said Conor, as he buzzed her into the building. ‘Third door on the left.’

Tess had never been skilled at reading expressions, but when Conor opened the door, even she couldn’t miss the alarm on his face.

‘Were you not listening?’ he said. ‘Sorry, Nina, but I asked Tess to come on her own.’

Bravado took over and Tess bustled her way in, yanking Nina by the arm. ‘Come on,’ she said, quickly followed by, ‘It’s absolutely freezing in here. Lads, you need to put the heating back on. And would you mind making some coffee? I’m parched.’