Dear Bea. Hey, good to hear from you. All well here. Have moved to Alderley Edge, not far from Manchester. Am still married to Roger, three kids and even one grandchild. Can you believe it? Come and visit. Now … you asked about Sam. I guess you haven’t heard. He’s in prison. Again. He was out briefly in January but back inside again. I don’t know how long for this time. Truth be told, I find it hard to hear anything about him any more. Shall I tell him you’ve been asking after him? Curiously, a few months ago, he did ask if I knew where you were, but I kept it vague though did tell him London. I have to warn you, he’s not good news, and the family and his ex-wife have just about washed their hands of him. Sam is not the man you would remember and, unless you want to assume the role of social worker, addiction therapist and nurse, I would advise against reconnecting. I feel bad saying this about my own brother, but we tried being supportive, bailing him out so many times, but he keeps going back to his old ways and I can’t see what good would come from you resuming an old friendship. Sometimes these things are best left in the past. So sorry to have to break it to you like this, and of course Roger and I would always be happy to see you if you’re up this way. Much love, Kate x

I stared out of the train window. I felt sad to have read what Kate had written. Although Sam had always been a mercurial soul who could have gone in so many directions, to hear that he’d ended up in prison, and, by the sound of it, was an addict, was such a waste. Would I try and see him? Reconnect? Probably not after what Kate had written. The last thing I wanted was a repeat of my time with Joe and his drug problem.

I checked my phone to see if by chance Michael had replied to my text. Nothing. I felt disappointed and resolved to put him out of my mind. Could he have sent me the gifts? I couldn’t deny that part of me had been hoping that he had but then, if it had been him, he surely would have replied to a simple text.

This list of potential past lovers is disappearing fast, I thought as the conductor arrived in the carriage to inspect all the tickets.

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