She cuts open one of the bin bags he brought in. It’s mostly kids’ toys with a faint whiff of vomit. Rob will wash them later. She opens the next bag and it’s full of unopened rolls of neon wallpaper. Someone had a change of heart. They can probably go straight out on the shelves. Some arty type will buy them. The third bag is bulging and heavy. Must be full of clothes. She rips it open and pulls out a neatly folded pile of jeans followed by jumpers. The top one is a cute polar bear Christmas jumper with glitter on white peaks of snow. It’s beautiful. She used to have one just like it. It never stops surprising her what people throw out. Underneath is another festive knit, a thinner material, long sleeves, more a tunic. On the front, there’s a pattern in silver and gold snowflakes, making up the shape of a wreath. She’s recently bought one just like this in the Black Friday sales; in fact, this one still has the tag on it. Shame it’s never been worn. The jeans seem familiar. Someone has very similar taste to her. She holds up a pair, then another. Strange. She picks up the oldest pair and sticks her hand in the back pocket. There’s a small hole in it, just like in her own pair at home. She tips out the whole bag onto the table. All the clothes are hers. Is this a joke? She’s not donated anything from home for ages, so it’s definitely not her, she’s not going mad. How can this have happened? It has to be Adam, when he’s been in the house while she’s out. How dare he chuck out her clothes then dump them where she works! He must have known she’d find them.

On the shop floor, she finds Rob crouched in a corner, pairing up shoes. There’s a red pair of sandals she’s trying to resist.

‘Do you know who left those bags at the back door, because I’ve just found one full of my own clothes.’

‘Really?’ Rob arches an eyebrow.

‘Do you think Adam is trying to get rid of me?’

‘Ali, you know what I think about it.’ He sits back on his heels.

‘Why else would he do something like this?’

‘Look at the situation he’s left you in – you’re about to have his baby. You’ve got to ask yourself, what kind of bloke would do that?’

She sighs.

‘Why don’t I pop over tonight, and we can talk?’

She shakes her head and picks up the red sandal, slipping her hand inside it. She mustn’t encourage him.

‘You deserve better.’ His mouth relaxes into a warm smile.

She kicks the air with the sandal.