‘Great.’ I bit my lip as he wiped greasy hands on his Nike shorts.

Willow unfolded herself to stand. ‘I don’t mind fetching wood too.’

The girl would win prizes for deportment, I thought, noticing how she threw poor Cecilia – spotty, stocky and awkward on the other side of Zach, face glued to her phone – into stark relief.

Cecilia had definitely become a less happy-looking child these past few months. Being a teenager was hard enough, and her super-anxious mother Lynette’s depression had burgeoned recently. Melissa regularly stepped in when Lynette just couldn’t cope. I also had an inkling there was more going on at school than I knew. How easy it would be to be Rex’s daughter in a massive comprehensive like Northgate High was debatable.

Still, a truly sweet nature lay beneath Ceci’s new glowering exterior. It seemed to me the girl could be excused for her dark moods – she just wasn’t doing herself any favours tonight.

‘Dad, look!’ Beau emerged from the bushes with cupped hands. ‘A wildy-beast from the woods.’

As he carefully carried it to Marcus, my heart turned over.

‘Clever boy!’ Marcus ruffled Beau’s old-fashioned cut as I sneaked another glance at my own son. ‘Let’s record it. Get the book, Beau.’

Everything Zach didn’t have anymore, I thought mournfully, watching Beau zip off again as the teens shook themselves.

‘Cute.’ Lena beamed at the disappearing boy. ‘Heathy loves insects. And, what do you know, he’s been studying Balzac this term!’

‘Blimey,’ I said, ‘that’s impressive for primary school.’

‘He’s very advanced.’ Lena’s teeth were white in the gloom.

Ceci had returned to her screen.

‘I have no idea what Balzac is, I must say.’ Melissa fiddled with her vape. ‘Didn’t Heathcliff fancy camp night?’

‘He’s with his grandma.’ Lena shifted closer to Ish. ‘It’s not camp night, darl. It’s date night in the woods!’

‘If you say so, dear,’ Ish repeated blithely, rattling the boogie box.

‘I didn’t know married people still dated?’ Willow looked at Ish as if she was confused.

‘Willow, I must say, darling, you’re looking so well,’ Hobbit-hands chimed in, definitely drunk now. ‘Sindy’s booking at Models One now—’

‘No way.’ A guitar string twanged as Marcus hit a chord too hard. ‘She’s not getting into that modelling bollocks.’

‘I don’t want to model thanks,’ Willow said politely. ‘I want to be a UN ambassador, like Angelina Jolie. Or Emma Watson, working for feminism.’

‘Wow.’ Melissa sneaked a look at Ceci, the girl’s face lit by the glow of her phone. ‘Good to aim high, I guess.’

‘Or a doctor.’ Willow looked at Ishaan again. ‘A surgeon perhaps.’

‘You’d be my hero.’ Nella’s face shone as she gazed at her daughter.

‘Heroine,’ Cecilia intoned, without looking up.

‘And thank Christ! Models are all anorexics, or junkies – or both.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake, Marcus.’ Nella’s shine faded into a frown.

‘It’s true. Christ, just take a look at Sindy, skinnier than a Cambodian—’

‘Marcus! We’re going to Cambodia for Christmas actually,’ Nella changed the subject. ‘Got to see Angkor Wat before I’m fifty!’