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being the focus of everyone’s attention at her wedding to Jamie that she’d decided Geoff was the man for her. Then Maggie had Nathan, and six months later Fran’s son, Dan, was born.
    Luckily Dan and Nathan got on well and as they thudded about in Dan’s bedroom overhead, Maggie and Fran settled down for a chat in the kitchen.
    “So.” Fran stretched out her legs and propped her boot-shod feet on another chair. “How’s your week been?”
    “Okay,” answered Maggie. Realizing this sounded rather downbeat, she went on more positively, “Actually, rather productive. I had a fun piece on aphrodisiac recipes to do for Men , and Jamie and I have been getting on a bit better.”
    “Good. I told you, he’s just working too hard. Any sign of it letting up?”
    “Oh, a leopard and his spots, you know. Though at least he’s been slightly more communicative recently.”
    “Excellent!” Fran, who was a part-time teacher, sometimes sounded like she was giving Maggie’s life grades. “So does this mean you’ve been having more sex?”
    Maggie smiled at the memory of their kitchen exploits. “Yes, as a matter of fact, we have.” She always felt slightly embarrassed talking about sex with her sister, who seemed to show no such reserve. Fran appeared to relish telling Maggie how well she and Geoff got on “in the sack.” It made Maggie feel inadequate.
    “Mum.” Nathan came in and interrupted. “I want to watch Ben 10 and Dan won’t let me.”
    “Oh, darling, I don’t know if we’ve got time,” said Maggie.
    Fran checked the clock. “It’s only half past six. Dan! Come here!”
    Dan came into the kitchen, sheepishly.
    “How often do I have to tell you that when someone comes to our house you must be nice to them because they’re the guest?”
    “Nathan’s not always nice to me when I go to his house,” Dan retorted. “Last time he said I had to watch what he wanted because it was his DVD.”
    “Oh, for goodness’ sake, boys!” said Fran. “I don’t care what Nathan does in his house, but when he’s here you play by my rules, and I say you’ve got to be nice to your guest. Now, scoot!”
    The boys left the room, Dan stomping, Nathan grinning.
    “Ooh,” exclaimed Maggie, “I forgot. I brought some food. It’s in the car. I thought we could have it for supper. I’ll go and get it.”
    She returned with a big saucepan clutched to her breast and a couple of packs of fresh pasta balanced precariously on top. “It’s tagliatelli al amore,” she explained, putting down the pan.
    Fran lifted the lid. “Mm, smells delicious!”
    “Seafood sauce with oysters. Designed to woo a woman virtually all on its own.”
    “So this is one of your aphrodisiac recipes?”
    “Indeed, it is—the second batch, to test I’ve got it right.”
    “I’ll put some on aside for Geoff. Can’t have him slacking!”
    “Of course not,” said Maggie, as an unwelcome image of Geoff and Fran popped into her head. She wondered if they had sex every night. It sounded like it, but surely not. “Anyway, these things are best eaten fresh. Shall we heat it up now?”
    “Let’s have a glass of wine first,” said Fran. “The boys can have their fish fingers in front of the television.”
    A couple of hours later they were still in the kitchen. Fran picked up the bottle. “One more?”
    “Better not—I’m driving.”
    At that moment Nathan and Dan burst in.
    “Mum…” said Nathan, kissing her.
    Given Nathan rarely kissed her these days, Maggie knew he was after something. “What?”
    “Can I stay the night?”
    “I thought you two were at each other’s throats.”
    “Oh, no,” said Dan sweetly. “Nathan wants to share a bath so we can have a go with my special intergalactic bubble wash.”
    “We ought to get back for Daddy.”
    “He’ll be all right,” encouraged Fran. “Why don’t you both stay over?”
    “Go on, Mum, please ,” whined Nathan.
    “Go on, Auntie Maggie.”
    “You could have some