‘She had a bit of a problem.’ Naomi gets to her feet in one fluid motion and I am reminded of a cat, a sneaky, stealthy feline. ‘Her nephew is poorly, and her aunt needed her help. She tried to call you guys but there was no reception, I’m guessing. She said it just went straight to voicemail. She didn’t know who else to call.’ She turns to me and gives me a nervous smile. ‘Al, how was the meal? You look lovely.’

I am thrown. After reading the messages, in the car I had built her up in my mind to be some sort of Cruella de Vil creature, but she’s still the same Naomi, the Naomi I have shared secrets with, laughed with, cried with. The Naomi I made my friend. ‘It was fine,’ I say.

‘Do you want to check on the children?’ Rav asks, and I shake my head. There is no way I want to leave the two of them alone together and it makes me feel confused and wrong-footed.

‘I’ll check them in a second. Let me see you out, Naomi.’

‘Oh.’ She looks surprised and turns her face to Rav. ‘Well, I’ll see you later.’

Rav stares at me. ‘Don’t you two want to have a cup of tea together before Naomi leaves?’

‘Rav, I’m really tired. Sorry, Naomi. Do you mind if we catch up later?’ I am already standing by the door, watching as she fumbles around for her cardigan, her shoes, her bag. I can’t bring myself to thank her for stepping in so Evie could rush off. I can’t thank her for worming her way into my house, my life, again.

‘Thanks for coming over, Naomi,’ Rav says. ‘Poor Evie, I hope her nephew is better soon.’

‘I hope so too,’ Naomi says, pulling a sad face. ‘He’s had to go to hospital, I think. Some sort of gastro thing. But it was no problem, you two should have called me in the first place.’ She looks directly at me. ‘I told you, I’m always happy to help with the kids.’

‘Bye, Naomi.’ I open the front door and she sidles out, waving her fingers at Rav, who just smiles wearily. He waits until the door is closed before he speaks.

‘I thought you two were OK? You said that you spoke to her today and everything was all right.’

‘It is.’

‘Really? Because that just felt really, really awkward. Are you mad at her for something? I know you were annoyed that she picked Mina up the other day, but that was my fault, not hers. Why aren’t you cross with me about that?’