She drummed her fingers on the tabletop, deciding what to do. It was ridiculous to let a small thing like Sushmita’s popularity spoil her birthday, but at the same time it smarted a little. She did a quick count in her mind, figuring she could ask her mum and dad to send her a birthday message on Facebook when they were at the carvery, and Natalie and Jake would do it anyway, most probably. Picking up her phone, she called Mario, who didn’t answer. He was more than likely up a ladder or mixing plaster or had left his phone for safekeeping in the van or couldn’t find it. Maybe it was stowed away with her elusive duck-themed birthday card? She decided not to leave him a message, a little embarrassed about leaving audio evidence of her neediness.

Craig always had his phone on him – Mario’s boss had crossed the line from supervisor to friend some years ago. She could drop him a message to pass on to Mario.

Craig, could you please ask Mario to make contact ASAP. Thanks. Bess.

With that, she plugged her phone in to charge on the kitchen work surface, fed Chutney a dog biscuit and went upstairs to run a deep bath. Bess shaved her legs, whipping the little razor over her shins with expertise before reaching for the shampoo and then the conditioner, with which she was extravagant. Well, it was her birthday. Lying back in the bubbles, she thought of what she might eat at the carvery. Images of tender slices of pork with crispy crackling and soft cuts of lamb slathered with rich, dark gravy filled her mind, and both of course accompanied with golden, crispy roast potatoes on which she’d be generous with the salt. With the flat of her palm she ran her hand over the bulge of fat that sat on her tummy. ‘Baby weight,’ she used to say. It was starting to wear thin now that those babies were twenty-six and twenty-eight. She decided she would forgo pudding, especially as she and Mario were having fish and chips that night. That was, of course, unless it was apple pie and custard, as that could not be resisted and would definitely be the first choice for her last meal on the planet—

A bang sounded downstairs and, just before her heart actually exploded with fear, she heard Mario’s voice.

‘Bess!’ His yell was urgent and sent another bolt of fear right through her gut. ‘Bess?’

‘Yes, up here in the bath!’