‘I don’t know much, only that she cheated on him. He won’t even tell me her name. He says she broke his heart. He’s still not quite over it, I don’t think.’ I bite my lip. The truth is, I sometimes catch Liam scowling and when I ask him what the matter is, he puts on a smile and tells me nothing is the matter. But one time he did admit that he sometimes thinks about his ex and that the pain of her betrayal still wounds him.

My mum must see the expression of doubt on my face as she pats my hand. ‘Don’t you worry. He loves you; I can tell.’

‘Do you think?’ I ask her. ‘He hasn’t said it.’ But we’ve only been dating six weeks so it’s not surprising. It’s a bit early for declarations of love.

‘The way he looks at you,’ my mum says, sighing once more. ‘It’s so romantic. And look at those roses he bought you. It’ll be a ring next, just you watch.’

I slap her hand away, laughing. ‘Mum!’ I giggle. ‘We’ve only been going a few months. It’s a bit soon for wedding bells.’ But I can’t stop grinning, touching the necklace and thinking of the dozen red roses back home in my kitchen that he bought me for Valentine’s Day. He even bought my mum a single red rose too, much to her delight.

‘Where are you going tonight?’ my mum asks.

‘We’re staying in,’ I tell her. ‘I’m cooking.’

My mum’s eyebrows raise. ‘You’re cooking?’ she asks. ‘Is that a good idea?’

‘Don’t be mean,’ I laugh. ‘Liam wanted a home-cooked meal. I’ve planned it all out.’

My mum still looks doubtful; she knows my cooking skills are sub-par.

Just then Liam walks in the back door. ‘All done,’ he says, setting the hammer down. ‘Nice and secure now.’

‘You are a love,’ my mum tells him. ‘Let me make you a cup of tea.’

‘Thanks,’ he answers. ‘That’d be great.’ He looks at me. ‘Then we should get back.’

I nod, even though we only just got here twenty minutes ago, and I know my mum was looking forward to spending time with us.

‘It’s fine, pet,’ she measures me, understandingly. ‘Liam’s a busy man.’

‘What about that bit of carpet at the top of the stairs that you needed fixing?’ I say.

‘That can wait,’ my mum says. ‘Not to worry.’

I look at Liam with a pleading expression.

‘I’ve got to install those security cameras,’ he replies with an apologetic shrug.

‘What cameras?’ my mum asks.

‘Oh,’ says Liam, washing his hands at the sink. ‘I’m putting up some cameras at Laura’s place. You can never be too safe.’