Tom remembered as a boy how he had occasionally wished he was big enough to punch Nathan for being such a supercilious know-all. Tom was certainly big enough now, but it wasn’t in his nature to thump anyone without serious provocation, so he had walked away.

As he arrived home, desperate for a hot shower and to pull the duvet over his head, the last thing he was expecting was to see a familiar car in his drive and the outline of someone sitting in the driver’s seat. The engine was running quietly, no doubt to keep the heater going.

He opened the passenger door and crouched down. ‘Louisa, why are you sitting out here? You should have let yourself in.’

‘I wasn’t sure if you would want to see me or if Jack was still here. I didn’t want it to be awkward for you.’

‘Jack’s gone for now, but I think he’ll be back, although I’ve absolutely no idea when. I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to meet him properly, but he’s a law unto himself. Always has been. Turn the engine off and come in. Of course I want to see you.’

The tiredness he had been feeling melted away as he wondered whether Louisa’s visit was a good sign or a bad one.

He unlocked the door and stood back to let her pass. She headed straight for the kitchen, as he knew she would, but she didn’t sit down.

‘Would you like a cup of coffee? Something to eat?’ Tom asked.

‘Coffee would be great. Thank you.’ She looked uncomfortable, something that was rare for Louisa. He decided not to rush her. She could say what she needed to in her own time. It was hard to talk over the grinding of the beans anyway.

When the coffee was made, Tom walked over to the island and touched Louisa’s arm gently. ‘Take a seat. Whatever you’ve come to say, it’ll be okay. You’re still allowed to sit down.’

Louisa took a deep breath.

‘Tom, you know what I want from a relationship. I’ve never tried to hide it. Total trust and transparency is something that has come to mean so much to me, and although I realise few people ever experience it, it’s always been my aim. Perhaps that’s why I’m in my late thirties and still single. Perhaps I’m searching for the impossible.’ She shrugged, a look of hopelessness on her lovely face.

There was nothing Tom could say. He had to wait, knowing he had failed to live up to her dreams.