‘I’m taking her home,’ Harry replied without looking up, as he continued to rifle through the bowl, although he did let go of Laura. Finally he picked out his keys – the I Love Daddy key ring swinging playfully from them.

‘Laura?’ Janie asked, stunned.

‘Yes.’ He jangled the keys in one hand and eventually turned to her. His face was expressionless; it was almost as if he had no idea that walking away from his own party to drive this woman home could in any way be out of order. Or maybe he didn’t care.

‘Why?’ she asked him, her teeth clenched, her wet hair soaking through her top and onto her back.

‘Because she can hardly drive, can she?’ Harry said quietly, leaning in, nodding in Laura’s direction. ‘I take it you’re okay, love?’ he added, as an afterthought.

Janie shook her head in disbelief. ‘Then call her a taxi,’ she said slowly.

Harry parted his lips, then clamped his mouth shut, his face softening as he gave a small shrug. ‘It’s fine,’ he said, pressing his mouth into a flat smile. ‘I don’t mind.’

She cocked her head. Did he actually think that was what she was worrying about? The fact he was putting himself out? ‘This is your party, Harry,’ she said slowly. ‘You cannot leave it to drive Laura home. Call her a taxi.’ Her words were drawn out as if she was talking to a child who didn’t understand her.

‘I’ve only had two bottles of beer,’ he said. ‘And I won’t be long. No one will ever realise I’m missing.’

‘I will realise,’ she said.

‘Seriously, Janie?’ He touched her arm. ‘It’s fine. I promise you I won’t be long.’ The keys continued to jangle in his hand. She held her own arm down by her side as she fought the urge to reach up and swipe them out of his grip. She could imagine the satisfaction she would get from watching them spin across the room.

Her blood was burning through her veins. If you go, Harry Wood … if you dare go. She opened her mouth to tell him how furious she would be if he left this house, but already he had leaned forward, given her a swift peck on the cheek and she realised that if she really had to tell him this, then what was the point anyway?

If they had reached the stage that her own husband’s priority was no longer Janie, then why stop him? Clearly it was too late.

She stepped out into the hallway as he grabbed Laura’s arm again, hauled her to the front door and disappeared. Eventually the sound of his car engine burred over the beat of music.

‘I agree.’