‘Should we perhaps’ – she didn’t know what she was asking – ‘talk maybe in the week or . . . ?’ This was a brand-new situation for which there was no blueprint. How was she supposed to behave with this man with whom she had shared every aspect of her life for the last few decades? Well, nearly every aspect. And here they were. ‘It feels weird you leaving like you do when you go to work but not coming home to me.’ Her voice cracked.

He stood and nodded briefly. ‘It’s weird for me too, but I’m not disappearing, only going to Nat’s. We need the space, don’t we? To try and work out what comes next.’

‘Yes, I guess we do.’ She imagined their bed with a Mario-shaped gap on the left-hand side and her tears came.

He took a step forward and she thought for a moment he might hold her, closing her eyes briefly and welcoming the thought of his arms around her, but instead he turned on his heel and walked away. Bess held the birthday card to her chest and, at the sound of the front door closing, slid down until she was sitting on the linoleum with Chutney pawing at her leg.

Her phone rang. She considered ignoring it.

‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Bess, it’s me, it’s Mum!’

‘Yes, I know your number,’ she sighed and pinched her nose. There was no point in explaining yet again how the phone worked, even if she’d been in the mood to do so.

‘Are you crying?’

Bess nodded and tried to contain her sobs.

‘For the love of God, Bess! What’s this all about?’

‘I’m okay.’

‘You don’t sound okay! Do you want me and your dad to come over?’

Bess shook her head. ‘No, no, Mum,’ she managed, ‘I’ll . . . I’ll come to you . . . Be there in a bit.’

She put the phone down and composed herself as best she could, feeling just the same as when she had walked home from school with her dire exam results fresh in her mind – knowing this conversation was going to be a whole lot harder to have, but also entirely necessary and long overdue.

Perching opposite Jeannie and Eddie on the little stool in front of the fireplace, she stared at her parents as they sat side by side on the sofa. With her leg jumping and her nerves jangling, she tried to begin. They looked worried and Bess knew she had to speak quickly, both to end their worry and to get the words out before she lost her nerve.

‘Come on, Bessieboo, the suspense is killing us! What is it you need to say?’ her dad prompted. ‘Have you won the lottery? Has Mario been made redundant? Is Nats gay too?’