The bouncy castle is the short-straw job, the attraction where most of the tantrums occur and the bulk of the injuries are sustained. I know she’ll be grateful enough to forget the other thing.

Susanna opens an Excel spreadsheet on her laptop and starts tapping in requests. After that bit of admin we go back to more comfortable topics of conversation.

‘It’s a pity Anna couldn’t make it,’ Mara says. ‘It would have been an opportunity for her to get to know us better.’

‘Did she say why she pulled out?’ Cassie asks. ‘Only she seemed so excited about it last week. I had the impression she wanted to get involved.’

‘Perhaps she had to work,’ I say.

‘Perhaps she figured out she would be given jobs to do,’ Susanna says.

‘What do you think of her?’ Kit asks.

There’s a silence and I imagine them trying to think of polite ways to disguise a bitchy comment. Kit has her three-month-old baby with her, draped fast asleep on his tummy over her knees, his face pointing towards me. I ache to stroke his silky hair. I want another one. It’s time.

‘She seems very pleasant,’ Mara prevaricates. ‘She just needs to bed in a little. Kai’s an absolute delight though, isn’t he? So interested and chatty. Leila adores him.’

Kit pours herself a fresh mug of coffee and adds a splash of milk. She stirs it and her spoon clinks against the china.

‘Anna’s a man’s woman,’ she says. ‘I mean, she’s friendly enough, but when she’s talking to you it’s as if she’s got her radar out in case a likely prospect hovers into view.’

‘Oh, I don’t think that’s fair,’ Cassie says. But she smiles. ‘She is a bit of a flirt. Remember that drinks party at the Filbys’? You and Nick weren’t there, Grace. Anna was wearing this killer dress and kept swishing her fingers through her hair. I think it’s insecurity though, don’t you? She’s trying to make an impression. We’ve all known each other for donkey’s years but she’s starting from scratch. It’s nerves.’

Mara brushes a crumb of brownie off her left breast. ‘She’d better not start feeling nervous around John.’

Kit snorts with laughter, spraying coffee.

‘Look, she’s not here to defend herself,’ I protest. But I’m laughing too. John is short and plump. He’s a lovely guy, but not someone a woman like Anna would have any interest in.

‘She’s more likely to feel nervous round Nick, don’t you think?’ Susanna says, giving me a mischievous look. ‘He’s so handsome.’

‘And such a lovely guy,’ Mara says. ‘You’re very lucky, Grace. I hope you know that.’

‘Shall I make some more coffee?’ I squeak.