I sit at the breakfast bar sipping tea from my favourite mug – a piece of chunky blue-and-white pottery made locally. It belongs to a set of four that Matt gave me one Mother’s Day a few years back. I’d wanted them for ages, but they’d been well out of my price range, so it was a gorgeous surprise when he bought them for me. Sadly, the other three mugs have long since broken. I wonder why it’s always the beautiful, favourite things that end up breaking, rather than the crappy cheap mugs, which seem to live forever. Anyway, at least I have this one precious mug left. I’m sitting here grabbing a few moments of peace before the crazy morning rush to get to school and work.

Glancing at the wall clock, I see I only have a few minutes at most until Matt chivvies the children downstairs. Icy winter rain patters down the back window. What I wouldn’t give to creep back upstairs with my tea and slide back under the warm covers. But there’s no point torturing myself with those kinds of thoughts.

The door swings open and Matt walks in with his usual energy. ‘Hey, you’re up early.’

‘Morning.’ I tip my face up to kiss him, tasting toothpaste.

‘So how did it go with Robin last night? You didn’t really say much when you got in.’

‘Yeah, it was okay.’

‘Okay? Was he any good though?’

I find myself squirming under Matt’s intense gaze. I really don’t want to talk about this now.

‘Mum, can you tell Charlie to stop using my toothbrush! It’s gross!’ Jess stomps down the stairs and into the kitchen, an outraged scowl on her face.

‘Just give it a rinse under the tap. It’ll be fine.’

‘I need to disinfect it. Can I boil the kettle?’

‘No, just give it a rinse.’

‘But—’

‘Do what your mum says then come straight back down for breakfast. Send Charlie down too.’

‘Ugh. My brother’s so annoying. I can’t live like this!’

Matt stifles a grin as Jess flounces back upstairs. Normally we’d both be laughing fondly about her dramatics and teasing her until she saw the funny side, but I can’t seem to summon my sense of humour today.

‘So you were telling me about Robin…’ Matt pours himself a coffee and a huge bowl of granola.

‘Oh. Yeah.’ I drain the rest of my tea. ‘He seems like a nice guy.’

‘Good, that’s really good. I didn’t really hang around with him much at school, but I always liked him. Did you tell him about Holly?’

I’m saved from having to answer as the children pound their way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

‘Have we got Cheerios?’ Charlie asks.

‘Cornflakes or granola.’ Matt holds up the cartons.

Both kids frown. ‘Cornflakes,’ they reply unenthusiastically.