‘Sorry, got to get this. Enjoy your night,’ I say with a smile, then grab my phone and swivel away from him on my chair, aware of him pausing before walking away.

‘One night. I just wanted one fucking night put in his diary,’ Vicky says, her voice full of hurt and exasperation. ‘I wanted him back early, but now he’s going to be back late – super late, so I’m going to have to put the kids to bed first. I just wanted him to be here to ease the pressure and help out.’

‘We can help out.’

‘It’s not that. I do it on my own every night. I just wanted things to be calm and make things easier.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, your house is always calm.’

‘Oh very funny!’

‘OK, OK. Look, he’s going to be home a little later. That’s fine,’ I reason. ‘We’ll be downstairs waiting for you with a big glass of wine. It’s only us. It doesn’t matter.’

‘But it does.’

‘Vic, it’s one night,’ I press. ‘All that matters is that we’re together for it.’

In the pause from the other end of the line I hear Vicky’s breathing start to slow down.

‘Do you promise to make the glass of wine a large one?’ she asks.

‘Exceptionally so.’

‘Perfect.’

Once she’s off the phone I quickly text Liam with the update.

Bad news, Nick has to work late.

It doesn’t take long for him to reply.

Bummer. I’ll leave the three of you to it then. ;-)

You don’t need to do that!

I’m wondering whether his hesitancy is down to him simply not knowing how to be around the three of us right now and the relief of being ‘let off the hook’ or really thinking us mates need to work out what our new normal is without him hopping around in the background.

I absolutely do. Say hi to them both. Love you. xx

You too. Xx

12

Mike