Angel held up a hand. ‘Please, Mum, just listen.’

Sasha and Kev waited to hear what she had to say. It had to be something big, something dramatic, for her to demand their attention like this.

‘I’m sorry about what happened at school, and what you did for me and everything.’

Angel was talking about how she had got involved with a group of girls who were bullying a former friend. Sasha had gone ballistic at the time, but now Angel seemed to have stepped back from some of the more toxic friendships she had formed.

‘Oh, Angel, we’re your mum and dad, and you don’t have to—’

Kev elbowed her in the arm, Let her finish.

‘I totally understand why you were angry with me, and I wanted to, you know…’ She dragged her bottom lip between her teeth. ‘Show my appreciation.’

‘Great.’ Kev clapped his hands. ‘Milk, one sugar, please.’

Angel fumbled in the pocket of her onesie, took out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Sasha.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s a reservation for a night at a posh hotel. It’s for one of their biggest rooms – it’s got a four-poster bed and a really big bath, and there’s a spa and a nice restaurant and everything.’ The image on the paper was of a big Victorian hotel, tall and stately in neat landscaped grounds. Sasha knew the hotel by reputation; it was swanky and very expensive.

Sasha handed the paper to Kev. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

Their daughter shrugged as if it were no big deal. ‘You don’t have to thank me, just go and enjoy yourself, you both deserve it.’

‘Okay, don’t get angry, but I have to ask…’ After a difficult day, Sasha was full of gratitude, but needed to get something straight in her mind. ‘Where did you get the money?’

Angel anxiously twisted the sagging cuff of her onesie. ‘I still had some money left over from Christmas and Nan and Grandad helped me out with the rest. They paid quite a lot, really.’ She looked nervous that her parents would be angry. ‘But I didn’t pressure them or anything.’

‘It’s been a long day and I was feeling a little down tonight, so this is a lovely and unexpected gesture. Come here.’ Sasha gave Angel a hug, her heart swelling with love. ‘I’m proud of you, sweetheart.’

‘I just thought, what with everything that’s happened, and Dad’s… funny turn and everything, it would be good for you to get away, just the two of you, like, even if it was just for one night. I’m sorry I couldn’t afford for you to stay longer.’

‘I can’t wait.’ Kev kissed Angel’s forehead and then turned to Sasha and jiggled his eyebrows.

‘What?’ asked Angel.

‘Nothing.’ He quickly wiped the look off his face. ‘It’s nothing.’

But Angel wouldn’t let it go. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Your dad is just being silly,’ said Sasha.

‘Why aren’t you telling me?’