We live in different worlds, she thought. As if reading her mind, Angie put the tea down on the table in front of her and said in a confiding tone, ‘I nearly lost it on several occasions. In the half term I had to ask Jack’s parents to look after the children so I could have a break. You’re seeing the finished product here but the journey to get there was extremely messy on all levels.’

That made Sophie feel a bit better. ‘How are you all settling into the area?’ she asked.

‘Fine,’ Angie replied, sitting down. ‘The younger ones have settled into school very well. Benji seems to be plodding along in secondary school although I don’t think he’s made as many friends as we’d hoped. He definitely misses his old gang. Indie has surprised us; she was the fiercest opponent to us moving but actually she’s happier than ever. She’s slotted right in with a group of girls in her class and they’re as thick as thieves.’

‘How about you and Jack?’

‘Oh Jack’s absolutely fine. He’s immune to stress so the refurbishment didn’t bother him in the slightest and he’s found a local café that gets his coffee snob seal of approval. He’s got an easier commute to work and he’s started coaching a local junior football team.’

‘And you?’

Angie looked thoughtful before replying, ‘I’m happy to be closer to my mum but I do miss my old life in Greenwich. We lived there for so long and it was just easy. I’m still in touch with most of our friends but we can’t just pop round like we used to.’

‘Have you made friends in the area yet?’

‘I’m trying to but with work being so busy it’s challenging. I don’t do the school runs.’

Sophie nodded sympathetically, seeing Angie in a new light. It was hard, she thought, constantly juggling responsibilities, not being able to drop any balls.

‘Anyway, how are you?’ Angie asked. Sophie sensed that she was keen to change the subject.

‘Oh fine, you know, same old,’ Sophie said dismissively, realising with embarrassment that she had nothing interesting to say to Angie, unless you counted the fact that she went to the supermarket this morning and bought an absolute steal of a coat.

‘How’s work going?’

Sophie was about to reel out her standard response of, ‘Oh yes, all fine, thanks,’ but instead she found herself being honest. ‘A bit rubbish.’

‘How come?’

She wasn’t sure if it was the warm, welcoming house, Angie’s attentiveness or just a need have something to talk about, but Sophie found herself telling Angie about how she’d gone to work with Alan and had been struggling to get back into her old job ever since.

‘I just feel a bit old,’ she admitted. ‘I know that’s silly because these days being in your thirties is considered young and I’ve got another thirty years of working age ahead of me at least. But I’ve just lost my energy and drive for it and I can’t seem to get it back. And I think I probably have a touch of imposter syndrome too, since having the children and my career break.’