Charlie’s face drops for a moment, but then he smiles again. ‘So I’m the same as you, Dad?’

‘That’s right, Charlie boy.’

‘Ha!’ He sticks his tongue out at his sister, who rolls her eyes.

‘Okay, guys,’ Matt says. ‘I need you to go up to your rooms for a bit while I talk to your mum.’

‘Are those flowers from you, Dad?’ Jess asks.

‘They’re a present for your mum,’ Matt replies.

‘Why?’

‘Why not? Go on now, up to your rooms and then I’ll call you back down later. Maybe we can play a board game before bed.’

‘Monopoly?’ Charlie asks.

‘Not tonight, it takes too long.’

‘Twister!’ he cries.

‘How about Pictionary?’ Matt suggests.

‘Yeah!’ Charlie spins around and does a Superman pose.

‘Okay,’ Jess replies. ‘I’m going to be on Mum’s team though.’

I wink at her and she winks back.

Once the two of them have disappeared back upstairs, Matt and I sit down. He gives me a concerned look. ‘How are you doing? I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day today. Sorry I couldn’t call – we’re working in a no-signal area at the moment. So annoying.’

‘I’m okay. It’s more of a shock for you than for me. I’ve lived with it for years – you only just found out about it.’

‘You should have told me before. I mean, I think I get why you didn’t – it can’t be an easy thing to talk about. But it’s me. We tell each other everything. Or at least I thought we did.’

Matt’s right. We’re not like those couples who lead separate lives. Most people I know who are in relationships socialise with their friends more than with their partners. Some of them even choose to go on holiday with friends rather than with their families. But Matt and I have always been a tight unit, preferring one another’s company to other people. So I understand this must feel weird for him. Almost like a betrayal. I would probably feel the same in his situation. I can tell he’s hurt, but he’s not giving me too hard a time because of the awfulness of what I’ve been through.

‘I’m sorry. I know I should have told you ages ago. Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t.’

‘It’s okay.’ But he shrugs, like it’s not okay.

I don’t know whether to hug him or not. If I’m too apologetic, he might think I really am in the wrong. But if I’m not sorry enough, he could get annoyed. I don’t even know why I’m analysing how to react. Surely I should just react. This whole situation with Bella has screwed with my brain. I’m not thinking straight. I don’t feel quite like myself.