And when it was over Lana cried silently. ‘I’m sorry I’m such a God-awful bitch,’ she whispered, turning away from him in bed so he couldn’t see her tears.

‘Hey, bit heavy, isn’t it, babe?’ he said, stroking her hair.

‘It’ll be all right once I’ve got through my first year,’ she lied.

‘You work too hard, y’know. You shouldn’t have taken this job.’

‘I know. I really wish I hadn’t.’

They lay in silence for a while and then he said, ‘Don’t go back tomorrow. Stay.’

She felt herself go cold inside. ‘I can’t.’

‘Why not?’

She didn’t answer him. She daren’t.

‘OK, then I’ll come back with you. I’m off till third of Jan. I could.’

‘No!’ she snapped.

‘Larn?’

‘It’s just it would be pointless,’ she said, desperate to calm the giveaway agitation in her voice. ‘I do three shows a day, Gar, I’d be at the theatre all the time!’

‘I know, but we’d get to sleep together,’ he whispered, snuggling into her neck.

She had to stop this in its tracks. ‘Look, I’ve messed up. You’re absolutely right, I shouldn’t have taken the job, but I did, and it’s a lesson learned, and I promise you, come Easter, I won’t be taking any stupid holiday jobs in Guildford, OK?’

‘If this is just a stupid holiday job, why go back?’

And over the edge she went, pushing him away and clambering out of bed. ‘That attitude is exactly the difference between you and me, Gareth – I’m committed to my career, you haven’t even got one.’ And she grabbed her things and headed for Judith’s room, which was thankfully vacant.

Gareth shouted after her, ‘You’re pathetic!’

She lay there, in Judith’s bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating how this sordid mess had affected not only her relationship with Gareth, but also her friendship with the girls. They’d barely been in touch since the Guys and Dolls weekend and this Christmas she wasn’t going to see them once. That hadn’t happened in all the years they’d known each other. And it was entirely her fault. Drifting off to sleep that night, she was full of remorse and shame and anger.

An hour later, she was woken by a short scream and the glare of the overhead light, brutal in its brightness.

‘Oh my God! What are you doin’ there?’ exclaimed Judith, standing in the doorway.

Lana shielded her eyes. ‘I could ask you the same thing,’ she mumbled, still half asleep.

‘I’m so sorry, Larn. I know I said I’d stay away tonight, but …’ Judith’s voice petered out and Lana could tell her friend had been crying.

‘Hey, babe! What’s up?’ she said, her voice dry and raspy. ‘Come here.’

Judith sat on the bed, forlorn, and Lana put her arm around her shoulders.

‘Is it Lyndon the trombonist?’

A quiver of a smile flickered on Judith’s lips and she shook her head.

‘I’ve just spent the last three hours with my dad.’

Judith went on to tell Lana all about her surprise meeting with George earlier that day and how he’d told her everything: how his marriage to Patricia was a sham, how she’d conned him into marrying her all those years ago. ‘My parents have been lying to me, Larn. For, like, years. Both of them! They’ve never loved each other. I mean, I thought Cyprus was bad enough, finding out about Sofia and Cleoniki an’ all that. But this? This? I’ve got no fucking idea who I am any more.’ And with that she broke down in fresh tears, sobbing like a child as Lana held her tight. She kissed the top of her head and soothed her with gentle words until Judith cried herself to sleep.