‘I think he’s a bit tired, Ces,’ I said carefully. ‘He’s been footballing all day, and I promised him a takeaway. Another night, I’m sure he’d love to.’

‘’K.’ She shrugged, clearly disappointed. ‘Say hi from me.’

‘Will do.’ I turned to go and then, on a whim, turned back. ‘Is she— Melissa is OK, isn’t she?’

‘Oh.’ Cecilia looked surprised. ‘Yes, I – I think so.’

‘Good.’ We gazed at each other for a brief, uncomfortable moment. ‘Well, see you soon.’

‘What’s up, Zachy?’ I started the engine, Cecilia gazing forlornly down the garden path as I pulled off. ‘You haven’t fallen out, have you?’

‘Who with?’

‘Cecilia.’

‘No.’ He was monosyllabic. ‘Obviously.’

‘Zach, what is it?’ I frowned. ‘And what are you looking at?’

‘Nothing.’ He shrugged into his seat, moving his phone out of sight from me again. ‘I just – I don’t always have to hang out with Ces, do I?’

‘No, of course not, but—’

‘It’s not your business anyway.’ He shoved my phone into the drink holder and glared out of the window.

Over time, I’d learnt to let things go when his mood started to slide like this: it could be something, nothing or everything.

Over time, but more recently with a lingering dose of pain, I’d realised he was growing not only up but also away from me. This was a truly painful lesson to learn.

Where once he’d cuddled into bed with me – turned up in bed most nights, in fact, the moment he could free himself from his cot – until Jonny finally put his foot down; whereas once he’d sat on my knee to watch TV, on the bus, reading stories every night, now he actively pushed me away.

He didn’t want or need me like that anymore. He only really wanted me for money or food, as far as I could see.

I’d gone through the whole teenage separation thing with Ali, of course, so it wasn’t entirely a surprise, but this, somehow, was worse. Zach was my baby, always more cuddly than my brave and independent daughter. But now: well, I could only guess at the interior life of a fifteen-year-old boy, because he wasn’t sharing. Although guessing wasn’t all that hard; Zach was pretty transparent, most of the time.

‘Are you still doing that buddy thing with Willow?’

‘Not anymore. Was only a couple of days. She’s hanging out with that Lola and her mates.’

There was something else here, but I couldn’t work out what.

I slowed for a woman on a bike, toddler in the child seat.

‘So you and Ces,’ I hazarded, ‘what’s the problem?’

‘She’s just – clingy,’ he cut across me. ‘And I don’t always want to…’ He glared at the windscreen. ‘I just wanna chill with my mates, OK?’

‘But’ – deep breath – ‘it’s just – you’re not being unkind, are you?’

‘Unkind?’ The tension vibrated through the car. ‘Yeah, right, really unkind. Just cos I don’t want to play PlayStation with her.’