‘I know. I know it has. And I have tried, Mario. I tried for years and years because I knew how much I had and that I should be grateful: our lovely house, our incredible kids and you. You’re a wonderful man, a wonderful dad and husband.’

‘Gee, thanks!’

She ignored his sarcasm. ‘I had hopes and dreams for my life once . . .’

‘Here’s a newsflash – we all had those,’ he spat.

‘But as I got older, things overtook me, until I found myself living a life that was unthinkable to me in my youth.’

‘Well, I’m sorry that everything has been such a crushing disappointment, sorry I couldn’t give you more. What’s Maxwell promising? Diamonds and a spin in his Audi?’

Bess shook her head, deciding not to respond to that directly; she had to stay on-message or she feared she might just lose her nerve. ‘No, that’s not what I’m saying. I meant it positively. I never thought I would have so much. You gave me so much. But this isn’t about stuff or things, about how many bedrooms, the trappings, not that . . .’ She took a deep breath, hoping it would fuel her speech. ‘You never expect something to come along that’ll change your life in ways you can’t possibly imagine, do you? Or that you might have to keep it secret.’

‘What are you talking about?’ he hissed, as if he had no time for the discussion.

‘I’ve never had an affair, Mario, but I have thought about it in that trance-like moment when I wanted escape. I’ve thought about a lot of things but never done any of it.’

‘You want my thanks?’

‘No,’ she said, shaking her head, ‘but I am trying to explain. I do love you, Mario, and I always will, but I know you’re right: we have come to the end of the road. We can’t go on like this, can we?’ Her words came out on a torrent of sadness, as if saying it out loud made it real. Her admission changed the mood of the room and she saw his shoulders soften, as if relieved that he wasn’t going to have to fight to make his position understood. He shifted until he was facing her. She could feel his stare and he took his time.

‘I don’t want us to fall out,’ he sighed. ‘Despite everything and whatever might come next, I don’t want us to be bad friends. That would make everything harder than it’s going to be already, especially for the kids, and that’s the last thing I want. Especially with Jake and Dan, who have so much going on right now.’

His good sense and kindness made her ache with loss, further proof of the make-up of the man.

‘I agree, but I need to tell you something,’ she said.

‘Tell me what, Bess?’ His anger had calmed.