‘Who was that I saw you with outside?’ Richard’s voice was even, but Anna could hear the suspicion in it. ‘Is this to do with him?’

‘The day I left home – not that you apparently noticed – was the day after the funeral. I’d never even met him then. I left home for myself.’

‘But now it’s to do with him, isn’t it?’

She looked down at the floor, seeing spots of Richard’s blood. ‘I don’t know. Maybe.’

‘Who is he?’

‘Someone I met through Olivia.’

Richard tutted, exasperated. ‘And who the hell is Olivia?’

‘Someone Mom knew.’

‘Has he touched you?’

‘Oh, don’t be so bloody predictable.’

‘Has he, though?’

She thought of that night in the flat. Jake’s gentle hands. Touched, but not in the way Richard meant. ‘No.’ She felt humiliated having to answer these questions.

Richard stared at her, trying to decide whether to believe her. ‘Five years we’ve been together,’ he said finally. ‘And now you want to go, just like that.’

‘Not just like that. It’s finished, Richard. I want my life to change.’

She found bedding for him and he slept in the front bedroom while Anna was in Kate’s at the back. They parted for the night in morose silence. Anna lay in Kate’s floral room aching with sadness, but too tired for more tears.

The next morning they were civil and distant, like acquaintances made the day before. They ate breakfast, discussed the Coventry house.

‘We should sell it,’ Anna said.

‘You might want to come back.’

‘I shan’t come back. Anyway, I thought being a property owner made you feel uncomfortable.’

Richard frowned at a half-eaten slice of toast, trying to take in her decision, her strength. ‘I could rent again, I suppose.’

‘Or buy somewhere smaller.’

‘You can’t buy anywhere much smaller. Except a flat.’ He looked across at her, appealing. ‘Anna, this is horrible.’

‘I know. I’m sorry.’

All the time she was holding on tight to her determination. Being alone there with him again it would have been so easy to slide back, not fight it, to go with him and settle into the old routine, the stifling habits. She felt she was holding her breath.

‘You’re not going to stay here, are you?’

The tone of ridicule in his voice riled her, brought back all her resolve. ‘Probably not. I’ll decide when I’m ready. I might move nearer the middle of town.’

‘What about your job?’

‘I’ve resigned.’

‘Will you find another school?’

‘Maybe. Maybe not.’

He put his head on one side. ‘You loved that job.’

‘I didn’t. I put up with it. Felt I couldn’t give up. I liked the kids – some of them. But I want a change.’

Richard looked concerned. ‘Anna, who’s behind all this? What’s going on?’

Calmly she looked at him. ‘I’m going on.’

He didn’t stay long after breakfast. They spent some of the time in silence, some talking.

‘I’ll come over and collect more things,’ she said vaguely. ‘Don’t know when. I’ll ring you.’