After work, at my request, Shaun and I meet in Costa for a quick coffee.

I only have half an hour to spare before Maisie’s after-school class finishes, but that should be plenty of time for what I want to talk about.

I park up on the road near the Ropewalk and cut down the side roads, heading for the coffee shop in the Old Market Square.

I texted Shaun that morning. Asked if he’d like us to tell Maisie together about the big changes that were taking place in all our lives.

Overnight, I’d calmed down a little and thought about Maisie, instead of myself. I had a duty to make breaking the news as gentle and effective as possible.

Shaun texted right back, agreeing it was a great idea, and so we arranged to meet here.

I feel a bit sick as I open the door to the bustling coffee shop. I’m not eating much and I feel jumpy and anxious, never quite sure what development is coming next.

I step aside as two young mums reach the door at the same time as I do, their little ones strapped in pushchairs.

It doesn’t seem two minutes since that was me: going for a coffee with my friend and her little boy, who I haven’t seen for a couple of years now but who is the same age as Maisie.

I arrive just a few minutes before our scheduled meeting time, and so I’m not expecting to see Shaun when I scan the place looking for a free table.

My eyes gravitate to a handsome, broad-shouldered man over on the far side who’s smiling at me, and I realise with a start that it is the new well-dressed, confident version of Shaun.

Seeing him unexpectedly like that helps me remember the instant attraction I felt when we first set eyes on each other all those years ago.

The spike of desire I once felt slumps into a tiny pool of sadness and regret that hovers in my throat for a few seconds before I swallow it down.

He raises his hand.

I pick my way through the packed tables, trying to avoid stepping on tiny feet and bulging shopping bags.

‘Hi.’ He smiles and I notice tiny lines etched around his mouth that I’ve never spotted before. Maybe it isn’t all fun and games for him after all; maybe Shaun is suffering too.

‘Hi.’ I pull out a chair and put my bag on it, taking out my purse. ‘I’ll get the drinks.’

I’m in luck; there are only three people ahead of me in the queue, I must have caught a little lull. I didn’t need to ask what he wanted to drink; he’s a regular latte man, no fancy flavours or additions for him.

I keep my back to him. I have on a new navy and white fitted jacket and a pair of well-cut black trousers that I haven’t been able to fit into for a while. I’ve paired the outfit with a pair of plain black stilettos, but I think I probably look quite slim from the back and the clothes fit me well.

I’ve lost weight without trying, even though I’ve been careful to eat regularly and cook myself and Maisie a meal each evening. The appetite just isn’t there.

It’s surprising the effect four or five pounds can have on the fit of your clothes when it just melts away without effort.

I find myself hoping Shaun has noticed, and then I remember Joanne’s svelte body and designer labels. I probably don’t look very impressive to him at all.

‘You look well,’ he says when I return with two lattes.

‘Thanks,’ I say, sitting down.

I don’t return the compliment, even though I’ve noticed he’s wearing a Hugo Boss navy sports jacket I haven’t seen before, and I recognise that fresh citrus scent again. It certainly makes a startling change from the dull, woody aftershave he’s worn since the first day I met him.

‘So, Joanne and I were talking about the girls last night.’ He jumps straight in. ‘They already know each other from dancing, but as Joanne says, they have different sets of friends. So she’s come up with a great idea to arrange a day together, all four of us, to give them a chance to get to know each other properly.

‘OK,’ I say, a little disarmed. ‘It’s important we discuss telling Maisie about you moving out first, though.’

‘I agree. Totally. But I think Jo’s suggestion could tie in with that quite nicely.’

Jo?! Last month I heard her tear a strip off an intern for calling her that.

‘I’m all ears,’ I say drily.

‘Jo’s daughter, Piper, is a sweet girl. I think she and Maisie will get on brilliantly.’

This is my chance to voice my concerns.

‘While we’re on the subject of Piper, are you aware she’s a bit of a madam? If you picked Maisie up from dancing a bit more regularly, you’d see her kicking off at her mother in front of everyone. It’s embarrassing.’

‘Oh!’ Shaun looks nonplussed. ‘I don’t know about that, but I’m sure Joanne has it under control.’

‘That’s just it, though; she doesn’t seem to have any control over Piper’s behaviour, which worries me if Maisie is going to be spending time in her company. And Piper sometimes wears clothes that are way too old for her, in my opinion.’

Shaun discounts my concerns with a flick of his wrist.

‘Joanne has suggested we all go to the Superbowl in town. It’s a good way for the girls to meet in a nice, informal way, and then we’ll go back to Jo’s place for food.’

‘And how does that fit with telling Maisie you’re moving out?’ I ask. ‘At the moment, she thinks you’re just working away.’

‘I was intending to tell her on Saturday. Just casually, sort of play it down.’

‘I don’t think that’s acceptable at all, Shaun.’ I push my coffee away. The thought of all that rich, creamy milk makes me feel sick. ‘Maisie is an intelligent girl, as you know. She’s old enough now that she’s bound to have questions, and she might well get upset. I think she needs to be in a safe environment like home when you tell her. Not in the middle of Superbowl.’

‘Oh, that’s disappointing.’ He deflates a little. ‘But I see your point, I suppose.’

‘I think bowling is a good place for her to get to know Joanne and Piper, but we need to tell her about us and about you moving out first.’ I tap my fingernail on the tabletop. ‘Perhaps Saturday is a bit of a rush. It’s a lot for her to take in; she gets the news that her dad is moving out and then within two days she meets his new girlfriend and her daughter.’

He shifts in his seat.

‘Like Jo says, kids are resilient. I think this stuff is best out in the open.’

‘I agree, but really, what’s the rush? Can’t you just wait another week or two?’

A couple of people at nearby tables turn to look at us, and I stare back, annoyed and confused as to why they’re taking an interest in our conversation.

‘No, I’m not prepared to wait just because you can’t handle it.’ He stands up, his coffee also untouched. ‘I was hoping you’d be reasonable about this, Emma, but I can see you’re intent on being as awkward as ever.’

‘Hang on!’ My mouth drops open. ‘Sit down, please, Shaun. I’m not being awkward; I’m thinking about our daughter, that’s all.’

‘Are you?’ He steps aside and pushes his chair under the table. ‘Are you really thinking about Maisie’s best interests here, or is it a case of being more interested in putting obstacles in my path?’

‘Shaun, you’re being unreasonable. I—’

‘If you want to see who the unreasonable one is here,’ he says snidely as he walks away, ‘then I suggest you take a look in the mirror.’