I bit my lip, tears blurring my vision. ‘That’s so sad.’

She looked at me, startled. ‘Hey, are you okay?’

I shook my head. ‘You could have been describing my boyfriend just then. The controlling behaviour, the gradual cutting me off from my family. Like you, I’ve been making excuses for him. It’s got to the point where I’m censoring everything I say and do.’

She looked at me appraisingly for a moment. ‘That’s not good. You poor love.’

‘I haven’t wanted to admit it to anyone, even myself, but I’ve just been existing too.’ I rubbed my forearm across my face, wiping away the tears. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘Okay; first, don’t panic.’ She took the hoe from my hand and led me back to the bench she’d been sitting on. ‘Let’s talk this through.’

I perched on the edge, conscious of the CCTV. ‘I’m sorry, you’ve come here to pay your respects, you shouldn’t be—’

She shook her head. ‘Nonsense. I’m glad to help. I’m Vicky, by the way.’

‘Lottie.’

‘Do you have children, Lottie?’ She handed me a tissue from her handbag.

‘Thank you.’ I dabbed my eyes. ‘No. Thank heavens. He’d probably resent my relationship with a child. He’s jealous of everyone I come into contact with.’

She sighed. ‘That does sound like Raymond. Do you have family nearby?’

I shook my head. ‘I’m from Derbyshire. We came down here last year for his work but I miss my dad and my sister very much.’

She laughed but it was without humour. ‘Let me guess: he doesn’t like them to visit and complains if you contact them?’

I pulled a face. ‘He doesn’t encourage it.’