You had no reason to say that.”

Valerie looked out of the window for a second.

“She’d been saying it for weeks,” she said.

“About you.

In my house, in front of my kid.

And I’d let it go twice because I was trying to keep the peace for Liam, and on Saturday I just didn’t have it in me any more.” She turned back.

“I’m sorry it took me two goes.”

We did not become friends.