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clues.’
    Everyone stared at her.
    ‘I think I know,’ Eliza said. ‘Is it Marilyn Monroe?’
    Tattie laughed. ‘Clever you, Eliza, you’ve got it right.’
    ‘Do you remember that schlocky advert on the telly last Christmas,’ Jensen said, sitting down and putting his arm round Tattie, ‘the one with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis opening the door to Father Christmas? That was Tattie.’ He couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice.
    ‘ No! ’ Daisy said. ‘That advert was so cool. Does that mean you’re an actress as well?’
    ‘Sort of. But not really.’
    Daisy sighed. ‘You have such an amazing life. We all sound very boring compared to you.’
    ‘Not true. JC’s told me all about Mia’s hat business, which I’d just love to see. I also know about Eliza being such a whizz, and you, Daisy, I hear you’re the queen of furniture design.’
    Daisy slumped in her chair and shook her head. ‘I wish. It’s all very dull and mundane what I do. Naff hotel furniture. Not at all what I thought I’d be doing.’
    ‘And what do you do, Jeff? What’s your thing?’
    ‘ JC not told you?’ he responded.
    Without missing a beat, Tattie said, ‘I expect he did, but I’ve had a ditzy Marilyn moment and forgotten.’ She leant towards him encouragingly. ‘A captain of industry, that’s what I’ve got you down as. Am I right?’
    ‘Dad’s in sealing and vibration control,’ Jensen said, not liking his father imitating the way Tattie called him JC. ‘And let’s face it, it doesn’t get any more interesting than that, does it?’
    The atmosphere crackled and as spoons scraped against dessert bowls in the sudden silence, and knowing that a family gathering could so easily turn on a moment such as this, a moment for which he was responsible, Jensen tried to salvage things by quickly changing the subject. Turning to his sister, he said, ‘So, Daisy, what’s up with you then?’
    Daisy raised her eyes, clearly taken aback. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘You said that work was dull and mundane a few minutes ago – why’s that?’
    ‘Yes,’ their father joined in, ‘I thought you liked that job. I went to a lot of trouble to get it for you.’
    ‘I know you did, Dad, and I am grateful. It’s just that—’
    ‘It’s just what?’
    ‘I don’t like it very much. If you really want to know, I hate it.’
    Jeff looked shocked. ‘Mia, did you know about this?’
    She shook her head. ‘It’s the first I’ve heard. Why didn’t you say something before now, Daisy?’
    ‘Because I knew Dad would tell me there’s a recession on and I should be grateful for having a job, blah, blah.’
    ‘But not if it’s making you unhappy, darling.’
    ‘Mum’s right, Daisy,’ said Eliza. ‘No job’s worth that. Have you got anything else in mind?’
    Daisy chewed on her lip. ‘We- ll . . .’
    Uh-oh, thought Jensen, here it comes. Here comes the shocker, just as he’d suspected. And perhaps this was the moment when the evening would turn on its axis.
    ‘The thing is,’ Daisy said, ‘and you promise you won’t get angry with me, Dad?’
    ‘Of course I won’t. Just so long as I’m sure you’ve really thought it through.’
    ‘I have. Trust me I have.’ She paused. ‘It’s Scott,’ she went on, ‘my flatmate. He’s going back to Australia and has said I should go with him, that I’d easily find work there. The job market is heaps better there than it is here.’
    ‘ Australia? Daisy, you can’t be serious.’
    ‘It’s a great opportunity, Dad. There’s nothing here for people my age. Nearly everyone I know who graduated when I did can’t get work. They’re all stuck at home on benefits getting more and more depressed.’
    ‘But you’ve got work.’
    ‘I know. But it’s not what I want to do. I hate it. I absolutely hate it and it’s making me miserable. Is that what you want for me?’
    ‘Of course it isn’t. It’s just the first step, the first rung on the ladder. Everyone has to start