‘Remember the moon landing exhibition?’ he says without looking at her.

She nods.

‘Amazing, wasn’t it? We’re lucky to have been alive for the fiftieth anniversary. I like what you’ve done with the garden, by the way, although having only black flowers is quite eerie at night. I’d have preferred a Moon Garden.’

Their eyes meet.

‘It’s as though all the colour has drained out of your world.’ He touches her arm but she twists away.

‘I thought you were dead. I’ve been a widow in mourning.’

‘I’m sorry.’ He looks away. ‘You’ve kept the tree,’ he stumbles over his words.

‘Why wouldn’t I?’ He’s full of tricks. Mother warned her.

Max doesn’t answer.

‘Do you know they found your rucksack, then your van? It was on the local news.’

He dips his head.

‘Why didn’t you call to let me know you were okay?’

‘I wasn’t well, I couldn’t think straight.’

‘They told us to expect the worst.’ She pulls her cardigan round her tighter and folds her arms. ‘Can you imagine what that did to Emily?’

‘I’m really sorry. I stood on that bridge and my mind went blank. I felt at peace, like it was the solution to everything.’

‘Solution to what?’

‘And the next moment I’d jumped.’

‘But you got out.’

‘I nearly drowned.’

‘Wasn’t that the idea?’

‘I don’t know. I damaged my leg.’ He bends down to rub his shin. Two bats fly in concentric circles above their heads. ‘I suppose I thought you’d be better off without me, that you could claim the life insurance, I don’t know.’

Maddy faces him full on. ‘On a missing body?’ She follows him to the foot of the tree. ‘You wanted us to believe you were dead?’ The words fester above them like a cloud of midges. She studies Max’s profile. The beautiful outline of his jaw is smudged by the new beard. A hint of loose skin has formed beneath his chin.

He looks deep into her eyes in that intense James Dean way he has, this strong power he has over her, and sure enough the familiar flutter rises in her chest, catching her by surprise. She moves away from him, determined not to be drawn in.

He reaches forward and touches the bark. ‘In that minute I wanted to be dead, and for… for Chloe to be alive.’ He clenches his fist and thumps the tree, letting out a sob.