Shannon – only an admin assistant in those days – had been the one to introduce them. ‘You are gonna love him! He’s so cute! And such a gentleman!’ Kate had wondered why Shannon hadn’t gone for him herself. ‘He’s a settling-downer,’ she’d said. ‘More your type than mine.’ And she’d been right.

The girl, Laura, nodded slowly. ‘Oh, you have children? How lovely. Girls or boys?’

‘One of each.’ And then, before Kate could stop herself, she was doing that thing she hated when other people did it. Getting her mobile out and showing Laura the most recent pictures of Alice and Thomas. Pictures, plural. Because, clearly it wasn’t enough to bore her with just one photo of children who she didn’t know or would ever be likely to meet. And what was she going to say? What could she say, except:

‘They’re very cute.’

‘Thanks. Every wrinkle is their fault though. They’ve made me look way older than forty-one.’ Kate laughed with more humour than she felt and slipped her mobile back into her handbag. She still didn’t know when she should text Luke to tell him that she’d left. She wanted to leave it as late as possible, but needed to give him time to ensure he didn’t agree to work late. Or get ‘pulled along’ by the Friday night pub gang. Again.

Laura shook her head and smiled. ‘You so don’t have wrinkles. But how come you’re travelling to Paris without them? Are you on holiday?’

‘I’m visiting an old friend.’ An old friend who hadn’t even known she was coming until a couple of hours ago. This was quite possibly the most hare-brained thing Kate had ever done. And the most exciting. Shannon would be proud.

‘Unfortunately, I’m getting the train back tomorrow.’ Laura picked up her water bottle again; it was one of those trendy metal ones. ‘Which is a shame as I haven’t been to Paris before. Actually, I need more than this water; I’m going to get a coffee from the snack bar. Would you like anything?’

‘No, I’m fine. You go ahead.’ As Laura left, Kate fished her copy of The Catcher in the Rye from her bag. But the train was busy and loud and it was difficult to concentrate on Holden Caulfield and his nervous breakdown. Should she text Luke yet? How was he going to react? How would she have reacted if the tables were turned? Actually, she’d have been excited by such a display of spontaneity. Before the children, Luke would often surprise her with a Groupon hotel break or a bunch of her favourite white roses. Now she was lucky if he brought home a Starbar from the garage without being asked.

She should definitely text Shannon with her arrival time. After sending the message, she managed to resist checking Facebook again. But made the mistake of looking at her email.

Re: School Bake Sale

Dear Mums!

I think I’ve spoken to you all about the cake sale but just wanted to follow up on a few items so that we’re all on the same page.