She snuggled against her son, the memory of the video Nate had sent her that morning rushing back to her, along with the thought that she hadn’t responded to it. ‘And I can’t believe how clever you are,’ she said, pulling back and smiling at Bobby, trying to ignore the flash of guilt that ballooned inside her. ‘Crawling like a big boy. Mummy’s so proud of you.’ She laughed as her son beamed back at her, and then turned to Nate. ‘I’m so sorry. It was a gorgeous video. I wanted to call you, but something came up and …’ Her words trailed off. None of them were adequate.

Nate nodded, his back to her as he gave a small strangled sound that sounded like a laugh. She chose to ignore it as she pressed her lips against Bobby’s cheek. ‘Are you pleased to see me?’ she tried.

‘Of course,’ he said flatly. ‘I just didn’t expect you yet.’

‘I wanted to surprise you.’

Nate nodded.

‘You don’t seem pleased.’

Nate let out a deep breath. ‘It’s five-thirty, Laura. You left on time – you hardly left early. Don’t make out you’re doing me a favour.’ He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and even though his words had jarred, she brushed them off, telling herself that her husband was exhausted and probably annoyed with her about the video.

‘I’m not,’ she said. ‘I – I’m trying to make an effort, Nate. Can you meet me in the middle here?’

He put the container on the worktop and looked up at her. ‘Meet you in the middle? Laura, what world are you living in? I’ve been so far over the middle I’m practically on your side. You come home one night before Bobby’s had his tea and expect me to jump up and down with joy?’

‘I’m not saying that …’

‘Good. Because I really don’t feel like doing it, I’m afraid. God, Laura, you have no idea, do you?’

‘Okay,’ she cried. ‘I’m sorry, Nate, I get it – you’re pissed off with me.’ Laura waited for him to respond, tell her he was sorry, that he was just tired and wasn’t really that annoyed with her at all, because he understood that her day was busy.

Instead he glanced at Bobby and then glared at her.

‘Bobby doesn’t know what the word means,’ she hissed. ‘Jesus, I really didn’t think this was how the evening would pan out.’

‘No,’ he muttered. ‘Neither did I.’

An hour later Laura’s mobile rang. She paused before answering, as Tess Wills’s name flashed up on her screen. Eventually she picked up. ‘Hello, Tess,’ she said. ‘Thanks for getting back to me.’

‘Sorry it’s late. I hope this isn’t a bad time?’