Chloe shut her eyes, horrified. Once again the difference between Helen’s life and her own leapt out at her like a reproach.

‘Then,’ Helen’s gentle voice didn’t change its tone, ‘this afternoon, I discovered that someone has put seven hundred and fifty pounds in my bank. Just like that, with no word or explanation. Someone I’ve told about all this must want to help, but doesn’t want to be thanked. Or refused, I suppose.’

‘Who?’

‘It has to be Oliver.’

Chloe’s first instinct was to say No, surely not, but she checked herself. Helen, after all, knew the beautiful but unthinking Oliver better than she did.

‘Chloe, how do I give it back to him?’

Chloe was unwinding the rollers from her hair and she teased a long, shiny red strand in her fingers before she answered.

‘Must you give it back? Think. Whoever it was made a considered decision. No-one has that kind of money just sitting in a pocket waiting to be handed out in a reckless gesture and then regretted. Whoever gave it to you, wanted you to have it, and probably went to quite a lot of trouble to present you with it in the least embarrassing way. Have you got to reject it out of hand? Would the money help?’

‘Help?’ Helen considered it for the first time. ‘God, yes. It would see us through to the New Year. There’s a possibility of another job for Mum then.’ She stood up, suddenly excited as the realisation dawned on her. ‘It might even mean that I wouldn’t have to leave.’

‘Well, then,’ said Chloe.

‘You think I should take it?’

‘Yes.’ And Chloe poured another generous measure of gin into Helen’s glass as if to clinch it.

Helen grinned, the brightness breaking through the shadows in her face.

‘But I’ve spent the whole day saying heartrending goodbyes to people. I’m all packed, ready to go. I can’t just reappear, can I?’

Patiently, Chloe knelt down in front of Helen’s chair and took her small, cold hands between her own.

‘Look. People who care about you will be grateful that you’re still here after all. And those who don’t, why should you care about them? Just go home for a few days. See your mother, talk about what’s happened, make some plans, and then come back. I’ll explain to whoever needs to be told, if you like.’

Helen nodded, grateful, knowing that Chloe was right. She was beginning to feel warm and comfortable again, and the brave face that she had worn all day wasn’t needed any more.

She wasn’t ready, yet, to think about what Oliver’s absurdly generous gesture meant to her. Or where it left the two of them now. But it rubbed away a little of the hurt and loss to know that he had done it.