That seems like the least of my concerns right now. It doesn’t sit well with me that Miss Emery has “disappeared” right after her reaction to Carl being my estate agent. It’s all very odd. Perhaps she, too, found out theirs wasn’t his only affair. But to up and leave seems drastic. Although, perhaps Yolande is embellishing. Miss Emery could merely be taking emergency leave, or simply sick leave, to clear her head and enable her to come back refreshed. I should wait for the next school newsletter. If she really has “gone”, then it’ll be officially announced and circulated to the parents. I’m about to vocalise this to her, but she’s already flounced off to her usual group of yummy mummies.

‘Hey, my gorgeous boy,’ I say as Leo shuffles towards me, his bookbag dragging on the ground. ‘What’s up?’

‘Long day,’ he says with a sigh. ‘I’m so tired.’ My heart melts; he’s so funny.

‘I know the feeling.’ I take his hand and give it a squeeze. ‘Do you fancy popping over to see Jo and Keeley now?’ I’m hoping he’ll say yes, as I don’t want to force him.

‘Well,’ he says, ‘I am very tired, but I suppose me and Finley could play Lego for a bit.’

‘Actually, it’ll just be you. Keeley said she’d get her special Star Wars Lego out … er, what was the name of the ship? The Millennium something …’

‘Oh, wow! You mean the Millennium Falcon starship?’ He skips along beside me now, excitement replacing his weariness.

‘Yes, that sounds right.’ I smile. Finley is waiting at the top of the field, so we head towards him.

‘Excellent. Finley will be so jealous. Why isn’t he coming?’

‘I need to talk to him for a bit. And I didn’t want you to get bored.’

‘Oh, okay. That doesn’t sound like fun. I’d rather be at Jo and Keeley’s then.’

With Leo happily on the floor surrounded by a mass of little grey bricks, I leave with Finley. I drive out of Stockwood to Decoy Park.

‘What do you think about moving to Kent? I mean, really think? You can be totally honest with me, I’m not going to be upset if you tell me the truth,’ I say, once we’ve entered the wooded area.

He shrugs. ‘Okay, I guess. It’s a bit scary leaving my friends and living somewhere new, though.’

‘Yes, it is, isn’t it? I feel the same way,’ I tell him, honestly. Because it is a scary prospect, however much I want it.

‘But I want you to be happy, Mum.’ Finley looks up at me, his eyes wide and sparkling.

‘That’s a really lovely thing to say, Fin. But I need you to be happy, too. You know that, don’t you? If you’ve things on your mind, worries or …’