‘Oh my God, I’m in love,’ I said to Quin, turning in a circle in one of the rooms in Casa Batlló, letting the colours from the stained glass wash over me. ‘Like, he didn’t hold back, did he? Gaudí? Not a man for restraint? I’m getting my house redone soon as we get back. Make it wavy! All of it, the floors, everything!’

I was genuinely mad about this beautiful house but I was overdoing the delight. My unsettling memories from six years ago were casting a long shadow. Pushing back against it, desperate to reach baseline normal, was hard work.

Finally, I let myself admit that for a lot of this weekend I’d been impersonating my happiest, most carefree self. Because Quin deserved it. He’d put a lot of thought and effort—and money—into these few days.

But there were other reasons—I needed touchstones. Things being good with Quin mattered because it was proof that, Yara aside, my life had worked out. The facts were: I was clean today; I was good at my job; and I’d met a lovely man.

I smiled at Quin. ‘Is being in this house like being underwater?’ I asked.

‘Yeah!’ He was pleased with me. ‘See how the ceiling looks like a whirlpool? And the effect this glass has…’

‘You’re a great tour guide.’

The walls were curved, the windows were wavy, even the ceiling undulated. ‘There are no straight lines, are there? Not a single one.’ Laughing, I said to Quin, ‘I bet you hate it.’

‘It’s not how I’d do my home but I can appreciate it.’

‘Well, I’—I grabbed him by the shirtfront and leant close—‘am enchanted!’

His smile was wide, he seemed genuinely happy and my heart lifted, even if it didn’t get as high as it needed to reach.

Each room, right up to the roof, revealed new delights. The wall mosaics, the shapes of the doors, even the ventilation system was gorgeous. ‘This is a dream world,’ I declared.

When we reached the roof, I looked around, then asked, ‘What’s next?’

‘That’s it,’ Quin said. ‘You’ve seen it all.’

‘I have? Oh no!’ It was like a bubble bursting. This magical house had kept me cocooned from harsh reality. I wasn’t ready to return to my suspicions and fear. You relapsed, you ruined everything.

‘What time is it?’ I asked. ‘What?’ We’d been there for two and a half hours. ‘Oh, Quin, what about the man you want to see?’

‘Was worth it to see you happy. Anyway, there’s still time.’

‘Okay. So. Let’s go.’

As we walked, Quin made a call. ‘Mr Navabi? Nick Quinlivan here. We’re on our way, we’ll be with you in fifteen minutes.’

‘You’ve to make an appointment? Go on, tell me about him.’