As a baby, Indie had almost put her off having more children but then Ellie came along – their kind, funny, down-to-earth Ellie – and she’d sighed with relief. A few years later Freddy had arrived, an amiable, sporty little thing compared to his more sensitive, theatrical older brother and Angie and Jack had finally declared their family complete.

As a mother of four and criminal law solicitor, it took a lot to intimidate Angie. She stared Indie down now until the girl finally relented and huffed off into her room, throwing herself dramatically onto the bed that Angie had already made up with her favourite bedding. Angie saw Ellie glance up at her sister and then back down again, wise enough to know not to bother trying to talk to her. Jack, who she suspected had been deliberately hiding while the bedroom politics were negotiated, crept up the stairs and peered into the various doorways.

‘Just seeing my parents off,’ he said. ‘They’re meeting my brother for lunch, but they’ll pop by tomorrow on the way home to check out the house. All sorted?’

‘I think so,’ Angie replied. ‘Although Indie threw her toys out of the pram and now she’s sulking. Poor Ellie, having to share with her.’

‘It’s not for long. We’ve got builders coming round next week to give us some quotes. Hopefully we’ll start work by the end of the year.’

‘I’m dreading it,’ Angie admitted. ‘It all seemed like a thrilling idea at the time but now the prospect of living through months of building work is terrifying.’

‘It’ll be fine, Ange,’ Jack said reassuringly. ‘It’ll be worth it in the end.’

Angie thought of their lovely little house in Greenwich, which was too small for the six of them but had hosted so many years of happy times and suddenly felt an overwhelming loss. Had it really been a good idea to uproot their family, take their children out of school and away from their friends, and move to a new area? Their whole life was in south London. They had a community there, a support network, a fantastic group of friends. They had been a popular family, always hosting parties, playdates and sleepovers. Would these friends, who had promised to visit regularly, be true to their word or would the prospect of driving through the congested streets of London every time they wanted to visit prove too much of a barrier? Would they be happy here? Had she completely misjudged things by insisting that they move?

‘Mum, my new room is awesome,’ Benji, her eldest, said as he emerged from his bedroom.

‘Mine too,’ Freddy exclaimed, appearing at her side clutching his favourite toy dinosaur. ‘Thanks, Mummy and Daddy! T-rex loves it too!’

Angie looked at Jack who nodded at her. ‘See, Ange, it’s going to be okay.’

Looking around at the peeling wallpaper and piles of unpacked boxes, she couldn’t imagine how it was ever going to be okay, but it was done now and she had to make the best of it. This was their home sweet home, for better or for worse. She took a deep breath and said, ‘Now, I don’t know about you reprobates but I’m absolutely famished. Who fancies walking to the high street and finding somewhere to get a spot of lunch?’