What is the point of any of this? It just feels like the universe rubbing my face in the mistakes to come, and I can’t for the life of me work out why.

Mum opens the oven to check on the sizzling beef, and then – just as I could have told you she would – she remembers that we don’t have any mustard, and orders me out to the shops to get some.

I shrug my coat on in the hallway and open the front door, feeling the crisp winter air hit me full in the face. Digging my hands into my pockets, I start trudging up towards the high road, confusion and anger still doing battle in my brain.

I’m not even halfway to the shops when I spot a little wooden barrow stall parked on the corner of the street, with a man standing behind it. The stall is decorated with tinsel and twinkling lights, and there’s a sloppily painted sign above it that reads: HOT ROASTED CHESTNUTS! Why its owner thinks that a suburban street corner in Acton is the best place to flog his wares is beyond me. But one thing’s for sure: he was not here on this day originally.

I’m almost at the cart now, but I still can’t see the man’s face – it’s hidden beneath the tinsel-strewn awning. His tie, though …

‘Ah, there you are!’ he cries, and as soon as I hear his gravelly voice, my stomach back-flips.

He pops his head out, and sure enough, two bright blue eyes are twinkling at me through a tangle of rusty grey hair.

‘Can I interest you in a bag of chestnuts?’

Chapter Sixteen

This at least I didn’t see coming.

I stand rooted to the spot for a moment, gawping at the watch-seller. I can’t believe he’s actually here! My brain is a blizzard of questions, but for some reason the first thing that tumbles out of my mouth is:

‘You’re … still wearing the same tie?’

The old man frowns down at the cartoon reindeer. ‘Don’t you like it? I know novelty neckwear isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I think it’s rather jolly.’

I have a go at formulating a more sensible question. ‘Who are you?’ I splutter.

The old man takes out a metal spoon and starts prodding chestnuts around the grill. ‘Oh, let’s just say I’m a concerned bystander. I only wanted to check in and see how you were doing. I imagine all this must be rather disconcerting.’

I stare at him. ‘Rather disconcerting? I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours wondering if I’ve lost my mind!’

He chuckles. ‘Let me reassure you that you very much haven’t. I was going to pop over and say hello back in the bar at York, but you looked rather busy talking to that young lady.’