‘Yes,’ he laughed. ‘I really, really do love him.’

She found his admission heartfelt and moving. ‘Becoming a dad will, I think, be the best thing that could happen to him and the best thing that can happen to you as a couple.’

‘You and Mario – you two are like couple goals, right there! We want to be like you guys. It’s hard to think of one of you without the other.’

Bess felt a tightening in her throat, wanting so badly to get back on track with Mario, never, ever wanting him to shrug off her hand when she tried to hold it. It had made her feel worthless and put her straight back in the body of her sixteen-year-old self, when she wanted to disappear. She hoped that when he knew her full story he might understand, and she needed to tell him sooner rather than later.

‘Thank you, lovey,’ she said gently.

Daniel looked to her, welling up. She grabbed the kitchen roll and threw him a square.

‘I was so worried about what you might say, Bess. I know you haven’t always . . .’ He wiped his nose. ‘. . . haven’t always thought I was good enough for Jake.’

Bess let out a long breath and her head hung forward, her words laced with remorse. ‘That was true at first, and nothing to do with you. I wouldn’t have thought anyone was good enough for Jake, but you are – of course you are, more than . . . You make him happy, and that’s all anyone can ask for their kids. He’s lucky to have you. You’re lucky to have each other. And I want to say I’m sorry, Dan.’ She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat. ‘I’m sorry if I was a little closed off. I’ll make it up to you. I want us to get to know each other properly.’

‘I’d like that. I thought it might have been the whole gay thing and that you were holding out for a miraculous conversion.’ He held her gaze and it broke her heart a little. This could not be further from the truth.