Woken by the sound of a car pulling onto the driveway the next morning, Frank peeled an eye open and squinted at the clock on Maureen’s bedside table. Shocked to see that it was 10 a.m., he shoved the quilt aside and dropped his feet to the floor. As a farmer, he’d grown accustomed to waking before dawn. And, even now, some two years since he’d sold his livestock and rented out most of his crop-bearing fields to neighbouring farmers, he tended to wake before the sun had fully risen.

Wincing at the sound of the doorbell echoing through the hallway below, he stood up and quickly got dressed before clattering down the stairs and peering through the spyhole. It was Yvonne, so he snatched the bowl up off the table before opening the door.

‘Morning,’ Yvonne said cheerily, taking in his tousled hair and the stubble on his chin. ‘Didn’t wake you, did I?’

‘No, I’ve been up for ages,’ he lied. ‘I was, um, getting ready to go out, actually. I’ve got an appointment, so I hope you won’t think I’m being rude if I don’t invite you in. Oh, and thanks for the stew. It was delicious.’ He thrust the bowl into her hand before reaching behind the door for his coat.

‘You liked it?’ Her face lit up.

‘Very much,’ he said, looking around for his car keys. Spotting them on the table, he leaned back to get them, giving Yvonne a clear view of the hallway and the kitchen beyond.

‘Oh, my,’ she exclaimed when she saw the mess. ‘You’re going to need a hand clearing that lot up, so why don’t I—’

‘It’s OK, I’ll do it when I get home,’ Frank cut her off.

Yvonne drew her head back and gave him a stern look.

‘Not on your own, you won’t. I’ve got nothing important on today, and four hands are better than two, as my old mum used to say, so I’ll stop here and make a start while you go to your appointment.’

‘There’s really no need,’ Frank said, shivering when he stepped outside and pulled the door firmly shut behind him. It was bitterly cold, and he really didn’t fancy getting into the car with its frost-coated windscreen. But now he’d lied about having an appointment to go to, he had no choice.

‘It’s no trouble,’ Yvonne persisted, linking an arm through his and walking with him to the car. ‘This is what friends do for each other at times like this. Your Maureen looked after me when I lost my Don, so now I’m going to look after you. And don’t bother arguing, ’cos I won’t take no for an answer.’