Esther snapped her mouth closed. They were out in the street, the biting air wrapping itself around their legs and Viv already striding on, throwing glares at Esther as she continued to address her. ‘You do not need me. And, apart from dear Dylan – who is at least in touch and who will come home, when he is ready – you’ve got it all under control. Masterfully. As usual.’ Her eyes glittered for a moment. ‘Even Lucas, I have no doubt.’

Esther could only gawp, while her brain scrambled to the texted x that had arrived from Lucas that morning, a delayed response to the consoling message she had sent after trying his doorbell. ‘Lucas is good at looking after Lucas,’ she said steadily, ‘as I think we can all agree.’

‘We can,’ Viv replied, speeding up. ‘Now I have to get back. My car is down here.’

‘Mine too,’ Esther lied, having to trot to keep pace, her coat and hair flapping, while Viv was as neat as a parcel, coat fastened up to her neck, bag strapped across her chest.

‘Viv.’

‘What?’

‘I thought your work was about communication. So, communicate with me.’

Viv halted and turned on her. ‘You just don’t bloody give up, do you?’ She dug into her pocket as she spoke, pulling out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.

Esther let out a small cry. ‘Viv, you don’t smoke. At least not for fifteen years.’ She watched, astounded, as Viv plucked a cigarette out of the packet with her mouth, snapping the lighter into action and inhaling greedily.

‘What the fuck, Viv? You’re actually scaring me.’

‘Brian and I have been going through… a thing.’ She paused, to inhale again, turning away to release the smoke in a slow cloud that promptly drifted back into their faces.

‘Oh no, Viv, I am so—’

‘Shut up, Esther.’ She took another drag and then dropped the cigarette on the ground, grinding the hot tip under the sole of her boot. ‘I have sworn to Brian that I would not do this. I am breaking my promise to Brian. I knew I would if I saw you. I knew.’

‘Your promise? What promise?’

Viv let out a low moan. They were by an empty bus shelter and she had reached out a hand to steady herself against the side.

‘Vivvie, just tell me. Nothing can change how much—’

‘Oh yes, it can. It has. We cannot be friends, Esther.’

Esther belted her arms across her chest. She was in her warm blue coat, but suddenly very cold. ‘You are mad.’

‘Brian likes you,’ Viv snapped.

‘Me?’ Esther started a hoot of a laugh and quickly swallowed it away. ‘I like Brian,’ she said levelly.

‘Oh God, Esther, you are so bloody naïve sometimes.’ Viv had the cigarettes out again and was lighting another one.

‘Am I?’ Esther gasped, as bewildered as she had ever been in her life.