I dropped in on Luxury Exchange to say hello to ‘my’ Chanel shoulder bag. After gazing at it lovingly, it hit me that, sooner or later, someone would buy it—someone with more money than me, or even less restraint. One day, I’d click and click and there would be no sign of it. No details on who had bought it, whether they deserved it, if they’d get as much happiness from it as I would have. Just…gone.

Crunchie gave a warning bark and the doorbell rang—local kids looking to be sponsored for something or other, no doubt. Not a week went by without them shaking me down for cash. I grabbed my purse, keen to hand over the money quickfast, then swung the door open—and standing outside was Luke.

Shock wiped me blank.

In my head he’d already gone back to wherever he lived these days. So to find him outside my house, the drizzle beading his silky hair and the shoulders of his dark overcoat, was simply too strange.

‘Can I come in?’

In an obedient daze, I stood aside, making room for him to step into the hall.

Crunchie skittered around, her claws clicking, sniffing at him.

Why was he here? Maybe he’d come to apologize…?

I pointed towards the living room.

‘My shoes okay in the house?’ he asked.

I looked down at his boots. ‘Yes, no, fine. Go on.’ Christ, who cared?

I followed him in and indicated the couch. ‘Sit down. Can I take your coat?’

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat and remained standing. ‘This won’t take long.’

He didn’t seem terribly friendly. Two grim lines ran from the corners of his nose to the edges of his mouth. They hadn’t been so visible in the church.

Well, he’d got older, so had I.

‘What can I…Why are you here?’

‘Devin and Kate?’ Suddenly he was animated. ‘What the hell? Did you put her up to it?’

Anger. That was the emotion he was giving off, I recognized it now.

‘Put her up to what?’

‘Getting into something with a man who just happens to be my nephew.’

Wounded, I stuttered, ‘I only found out last night, I wasn’t happy either.’

Angry and silent, he stared at me, breathing hard.

‘Why would I, quote, “put her up to it”?’

‘To get back at me.’

His hostility was shocking.

‘I wouldn’t do that.’ My voice was small and confused. ‘But what’s it to you? They’re both adults, they can do whatever they like.’

‘Can you imagine how I felt when I walked into Justin’s house and there, sitting at the kitchen table, was your niece. What if she fucks him over?’