I have a memory of a particular scene/event in a novel, but can't remember what the book was...
A young girl has a quite distant mother who often goes on her own to a particular restaurant or diner but never invites her daughter with her. On the girl's birthday she is really happy because her mother suggests going to the restaurant for breakfast. However when they get there, the mother just leaves the daughter there to eat breakfast on her own, while the mother goes off somewhere (maybe to play tennis??) Girl is obviously really disappointed. I think it's based in USA but can't remember anything else.
Any ideas? Mumsnet is usually so good at this kind of thing!