His body language is a little less uptight, perhaps, although he cranes his chin as he sits down in that nervous way he has. Kate looks weary. Her blonde hair’s greasy and she’s wearing the same unflattering black polo neck, complete with animal hairs. She’s made some effort and put on a little make-up, but her blue eyeshadow is smudged and she’s overdone the blusher. That’s what small children do to you, Victoria thinks, remembering her own utter exhaustion. Don, on the other hand, is positively jaunty, in navy chinos and a crisp white open-necked shirt, with a racy black blouson jacket on top. ‘How was Christmas and New Year?’ Victoria asks. Kate waits for Don to answer, which may be a good sign. Previously she’s waded in angrily at the first opportunity. Don admits that it’s been tiring — for Kate — as one of the children had a chest infection and was cranky and demanding.
