A few weeks ago, she had gone to the doctor and asked for a prescription for the pill, closing the chapter on her baby-making days for good. Her life had changed over the past few months and so had she. Having a baby with Alan no longer felt like the right thing to do. She didn’t know what the next year held for her yet but she knew that it was going to be very different.

When Jack had invited her over for a New Year’s Eve party, as they were walking home from school together one day, she had been surprised. Her initial reaction was to say no.

‘I’m not sure about that,’ she told him.

‘Why?’

‘You know why, Jack.’

‘You mean Angie?’

‘Yes of course I mean Angie.’

Jack looked pained. They rarely talked about Angie, ignoring the elephant in the room whenever they saw each other.

‘I think this party is what we all need actually,’ he told her. ‘A chance to clear the air.’

Sophie was still unconvinced, but Jack looked at her pleadingly. ‘Come on, Soph, it’s been such a strange time. I think Angie’s having some sort of burn out but she refuses to talk to me about it, and life at home is not the most fun at the moment. I’ve not been out in weeks; I’m knackered and I need to have a laugh. And I really want to spend New Year’s Eve with you.’

‘And Alan?’ Sophie reminded him.

‘The whole Brennan brood if it means you’ll come.’

Sophie thought about it. Her instincts were still screaming at her to turn down the invitation but Jack was looking at her like an adorable little puppy, making it impossible for her to refuse. And there was a small part of her that still hoped she and Angie could find a way back, no matter how unlikely that seemed. She looked at Jack and relented. ‘Oh, go on then, you sod.’

The party had been weeks away then, so she could put it to the back of her mind and forget all about it. But after a whirlwind Christmas, New Year’s Eve had arrived before she knew it and now she couldn’t put it off any longer. It was time to face the music, or Angie at least, and she was feeling horribly nervous. She gave her hair one last smooth over, took a deep breath and made her way downstairs, where Alan and the kids were waiting for her.

‘What do you think?’ she said to Alan, giving him a little twirl.

‘Beautiful, Soph, as always,’ he said. Tom and Katie were hovering by the back door already, eager to get going. They both remembered how fun the party had been last year and were looking forward to staying up late and having a sleepover.

‘Come on, let’s go,’ Tom said impatiently, tapping his foot, as Sophie scrabbled around for the food and drinks she had bought to take with them. With a final glance in the mirror, she nodded to Tom and he was out of the door and racing up the garden, with Katie on his heels, before she’d even put her shoes on. By the time she and Alan arrived, the children had already made themselves at home with the easy confidence of guests who knew they were welcome. Sophie shrugged her coat off and saw Jack making up drinks in the kitchen, while wearing a headband with sparkly balls bouncing around on top. She couldn’t stop a grin from escaping. Somehow, he managed to pull it off. He turned around and his face lit up when he saw her.