‘There is something I’ve been wanting to ask you,’ he said, shifting round so he was kneeling in front of her, looking right into her eyes. He wondered what she saw in his, how much she could read him. ‘You can say no to this, if it makes you uncomfortable. And we don’t have to straight away.’ He pushed a fallen curl behind her ear.

‘Let me decide that.’ She touched his chin and ran her fingers along the newly shaven skin.

‘I want us to be together always – I don’t want to lose what we have.’ He took her hands between his. A flood of adrenaline pulsed through him. Maybe it was a little bit crazy. You’re moonstruck, Gran would say. But it was time to start laying down roots, stop wondering what might have been. A ripple of clouds surrounded the bright moon. Beautiful things like this didn’t happen to someone like him. But here he was, and it was happening all right and it made his whole body light up like never before.

He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Maddy, will you marry me?’

An instant smile brightened her face and eyes, fingertips pressed to her lips as he watched his words sink in.

‘Oh God, Max, I’d love to.’ They reached out at the same time, clasping each other tightly in their arms.

Chapter Nineteen

Maddy: October 2019

It’s been almost two weeks since Max disappeared, although it feels like an age. He’s still not been found. In an interview for the local newspaper she was asked if she thought he was still alive. She said she couldn’t bring herself to think of him as dead, although she realises it’s a possibility. It’s also possible that he’s alive and well and living with that woman, but she didn’t tell them that. Either way it’s a lot to come to terms with. But it doesn’t stop her expecting him to call her or turn up. She thought she saw him at the supermarket, but on closer inspection, the man was much older with a chubby face. She imagines him doubling over with laughter at all the fuss being made. He’ll tell her it hadn’t been him on that bridge. But the day after the interview, Max’s van was found abandoned in a street, less than a mile from the river.

When Alison drives away in the Nissan, Maddy follows, being careful to keep plenty of distance. Alison is a careless driver, she concludes, driving way over the speed limit. The drive is shorter than she expected. Less than five minutes and they are pulling into the car park at Tesco. She hoped she might be meeting Max but nevertheless she follows her into the store, pushing a clunky trolley.