Even after knowing Angie for a short time it made complete sense to Sophie.

‘The lads used to call her the ice princess,’ he said, chuckling, before quickly adding, ‘I’ve never told her that, mind.’

‘So, what was different when you met up again?’ she asked him.

‘We’d just grown up a bit, I think. As soon as I saw her, I remembered how amazing she was and I thought, don’t be a douchebag and let this one go. So I gave it to her straight and luckily, she felt the same. And here we are fifteen years later, married with four kids. How about you and Alan?’

‘Oh, nothing romantic. He chatted me up in a bar, asked me for my number and took me out. Here we are ten years later, married with two kids.’

Jack laughed and then rushed on ahead when Freddy took a tumble from his scooter. Sophie watched him as he picked the boy up and sent him on his way again before he even had a chance to consider crying. He is a natural with children, she thought.

‘Where are you off to now?’ she asked him after they dropped the kids off in the playground.

‘Back home to do some work. How about you?’

‘Coffee with the mums from the PTA. It’s only September but we’re already starting to think about the Christmas fair.’

Jack winced. ‘Sounds like my idea of hell,’ he said.

Sophie laughed. ‘It’s not that bad. They’re a good bunch.’

‘Still, rather you than me,’ Jack replied. He said goodbye and headed off in the direction of home. Just as she was turning to leave, Sophie spotted Clara, one of the other mums on the PTA, striding towards her.

‘Who’s that?’ she asked, looking at Jack’s retreating back.

‘Jack Taylor, Ellie and Freddy’s dad. He lives next door,’ Sophie replied.

Clara nodded absent-mindedly, already having lost interest. ‘So, are you ready to plan the greatest Christmas fair this school has ever seen?’

‘Not until I’ve had a coffee.’

‘We’d better get going then.’

They walked together towards their regular coffee shop, briefing each other on their summer holiday adventures. It was quite nice to be back in the old routine after all, Sophie thought, already abandoning her plans to go on a post-holiday diet and thinking of the insanely good chocolate croissants they did at the café.

When they opened the door, she saw three of the other mums already sitting down at their usual table, chatting among themselves. One of them was feeding her baby while also trying to stop her busy toddler from running off. Sophie was about to step in when two of the others distracted the boy, seating him between them and offering him snacks to give his mum a bit of peace and quiet. They were a tribe, she thought fondly, they looked out for each other.

Andy, the café owner, waved when he saw her. ‘The usual?’

‘Yes, please. And a chocolate croissant.’