Shalani doesn’t end our friendship that Saturday morning. She doesn’t seem offended by my angry tirade over the phone. She doesn’t seem to mind being called a spoilt brat.

Instead she gives a little giggle and says, “Thanks, Jane. I feel a little better now. So we’ll see you and Leila this evening, right? DK will pick you up around six.”

Saturday evening, DK collects us at six sharp in his monster SUV, with its state-of-the-art child seats. He’s being his usual creepy self, putting his hand on my leg, stroking my arm, play-acting at being a sulky little boy each time I push him away.

“You’re the one I really wanted,” he tells me. “Back at school, you were always the one I fancied, Jane.” Then he laughs, like it’s just a joke.

Shalani is dressed and ready when we get to their house. Standing there on the spiral staircase, she looks amazing in her red dress with her matching red shoes. She’s glowing again as she links her arm through DK’s, and they head for the door.

“Have a lovely night,” I call after them.

“Don’t wait up,” Shalani calls back. “I’m on a mission to party hard, specially with all the fancy wines they promised us!”

So I bath all three little ones: Leila and Dominique and Kyle. They have a glorious time splashing in the bubbles until the bathroom floor is wet from corner to corner. But – oh joy – I won’t have to worry about cleaning up. Not in this house. The housekeeper will do it when she gets back from the christening.

Then I tuck all three of them up – there in the massive nursery room with its murals from The Lion King, with its windows that overlook the swimming pool and the flower garden beyond. Shalani’s twin boys still sleep in cots and there is a spare bed for Leila.

“Story, Mama,” Leila demands. “Story for me and Doneekie and Kylie.”

So I read the story of the scared monster. The two little boys don’t really understand. But they laugh because Leila is laughing. And they cheer when Leila cheers.

“And me’s lul-lee-by, Mama.”

So I sing to all three of them:

Even when the winds blow icy
And the stars in sorrow hide
Just remember
I will never leave your side.

Shalani’s twins are already fast asleep, looking like little angels. So beautiful! I can remember when she first told me she was pregnant with twins. It is not a day I like to think about. I am ashamed when I remember.

Leila falls asleep too, still smiling from the fun of being with the twins. And I head straight for the TV lounge. It is better for me not to wander round this huge and luxurious house so full of expensive, luxurious things. When I do, the jealousy and the bitterness are too much to handle. I want to scream out at the world, ‘How is this fair? Why does Shalani have all the luck? Why does she have so much when I have so little? Why do her twins have so much when my poor little Leila has to make do with the bare minimum?’

So I watch a movie, and then I head for bed myself in the pleasant guest room with its sweet-smelling, rose-patterned linen and fluffy sheepskin carpets.

When Shalani and DK return, I am fast asleep. I don’t hear a thing.

But a while later, I wake to someone whispering my name, stroking my cheek, there in the half-darkness of the guest room.

It’s DK!

***

Tell us what you think: Why is DK there in the guest room?