Chrissie sighs and ruffles his hair. ‘I guess you’ve had too good a time here, huh?’

‘Yeah, I have.’

She smiles wearily. ‘Well, look. Maybe Viv would let you stay one more night?’

Oh, no, no. I don’t think Viv would like that.

‘Maybe,’ she adds, ‘we could ask Viv if that would be okay, and you could come home tomorrow morning instead?’

Maybe Viv wouldn’t think that was okay? I look at Tim with a tight smile, teeth gritted, as I transmit the message – please take your son home – which, thankfully, he seems to receive loud and clear.

‘Nope, sorry,’ he says, grabbing Ludo’s hand, ‘Viv’s done more than enough for us this week.’

‘Aw, Dad!’ Ludo exclaims, but for once, a parent takes charge as his possessions are gathered, and as they leave I hear Tim asking, ‘So, what did you like best at Viv and Izzy’s?’

‘When Viv put her keys in the postbox,’ Ludo replies.

Chapter Twenty

Saturday, August 24

Viv and Izzy’s, it is these days, which feels normal, I guess, to the point at which Andy seems like an awkward visitor whenever he comes to pick up our daughter. While Izzy’s up in her room, getting ready for her day out with Dad, he and I are obliged to make chitchat.

Thank God there is always information to be exchanged about Izzy. ‘Has she managed to shake off that cold?’ ‘Has that wobbly tooth fallen out?’ He pings questions at me and I answer with curt politeness. ‘How’s she getting on with that natural history project?’ he asks, sipping his coffee and leaning against the kitchen table.

‘It’s coming along really well,’ I reply.

‘Wetland habitats, is it?’ Ah, so he’s trying to impress with his knowledge of what’s going on in her life (when he was here he never seemed to have a clue about school-related stuff).

‘That’s right,’ I say, tempted to add, She could start right here, by examining my bed after a sweaty night. But I’m not sure Andy and I will ever reach the stage where we can laugh about that.

A small silence descends. ‘You’re looking well,’ he remarks.

I beg your pardon? ‘Am I? Thanks.’