Roz remembered the discussion, just. It was not important. The boys were to go to a friend’s for a weekend camp. The parents were discussing it, that was all. In fact the mothers were discussing it, the lathers might just as well not have been there.

The men had been silenced, sat watching and even exchanged looks. Harold was annoyed, but Theo’s demeanour said only, ‘Women, what do you expect?

And then, that subject disposed of-the boys - Roz said, ‘I simply must tell you …’ and leaned forward to tell Lil. dropping her voice, not knowing she did this, telling her something, nothing important.

The husbands sat and watched, Harold all alert irony, Theo bored.

It went on. The tape ran out.

‘Do you mean to say you actually filmed that - to trap me? You set it up, to get at me!’

‘No, don’t you remember? I had made a film of the boys on the is beach. Then you took the camera and filmed me and Theo. And then Theo said, “How about the girls?”’

‘Oh,’ said Roz.

‘Yes. It was only when I played it back later - yesterday, in fact, that I saw … Not that I was surprised. That’s how it always is. It’s you and Lil. Always.’

‘What are you suggesting? Are you saying we’re lezzies?’

‘No, Tin not. And what difference would it make if you were?’

‘I simply don’t get it.’

‘Obviously sex doesn’t matter that much. We have, I think, more than adequate sex, but it’s not me you have the relationship with.’

Roz sat, all twisted with emotion, wringing her hands, the tears ready to start.

‘And so I want you to come with me up north,’

‘You must be mad.’