‘How are you feeling about having someone in the house again?’

Freddy was planning on living at home for a while. Everyone said it was because he wanted to save money while he studied for his master’s, but everyone also knew it was because he wanted to spend time with his mum while he still could.

‘I’m rather looking forward to it. This house was made for a crowd, for noise and chaos and laughter, not for one person rattling around in it. It needs a bit of energy in it again.’

‘Is Freddy worried about Katie going away?’

‘He says he’s not but I’m sure he’s secretly having visions of her dancing salsa under the stars with some Latino hunk.’

‘I don’t think you get many hunks around archaeological dig sites though.’

‘Have you watched Indiana Jones, Sophie?’

‘Well, I don’t think he has anything to worry about. The only things my Katie gets excited about are fossils and Freddy.’

‘They’re young though. They’ve got so much to come. So much adventure but so much heartbreak too, probably.’

‘Yes, true. And if that does happen, we’ll be there to hold their hands.’

‘Speak for yourself.’

‘Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself, you old party pooper.’

Angie laughed and squeezed Sophie’s hand. Sophie knew that she appreciated the humour, that the thing she hated most was pity. She’d always been too damn proud for her own good. But at least she was finally letting people help her. She was letting them look after her for once.

The front door slammed and Jack appeared around the corner, with Benji behind him.

‘Look at this reprobate who I’ve just bumped into trying unsuccessfully to park his flashy, oversized Range Rover into a massive parking space on the street,’ Jack declared in delight. ‘And it’s even got parking assist on it!’ He was roaring with laughter.

Benji scowled at him. ‘I’ve only had the car a week, Dad, leave off.’

‘Better learn to drive it, mate, before you start entertaining the ladies, that’s all I’m saying.’

‘Benji, you made it!’ Angie said, her face lighting up.

‘Yeah, we finished filming earlier than planned,’ Benji said. ‘Where are the others?’

‘Kitchen.’

Benji wandered off and Jack leaned in to hug Sophie.

‘Thanks for yesterday,’ she whispered. ‘For being so nice to Alan.’

He squeezed her. ‘Anything for you, Brennan.’

The doorbell went again.

‘Christ, it’s like Piccadilly Circus around here,’ Angie said.

‘I’ll get it,’ Sophie replied, hoping it was who she thought it would be. She tentatively opened the door and shrieked with delight when she saw her son.

‘Tom!’ she said, ushering him in. ‘I’m so pleased you made it.’

Tom worked as an accountant and lived with friends in Islington. He seemed to spend his time either working or partying and she rarely saw him these days, although she tried not to give him a hard time about it. Katie and Freddy had been to a couple of his house parties and said they were epic. She really didn’t want to know the details. ‘He’s young and having fun,’ she told Alan whenever he made a comment about their errant son. Every couple of months he would turn up at home for a Sunday roast or she and Alan would go to London and meet him for a drink. But he always called his dad religiously every weekend during football season to discuss the scores. It was their thing, just the two of them, and whenever Sophie saw Alan clutching onto his phone, waiting in anticipation for his call, she was glad that they had it.