‘Yeah,’ said Gus, and he looked back over his shoulder at a shriek from Coco. I could see that the conversation was coming to a close. ‘My dad and stepmum are just up the hill. They’re great. My actual mum’s here for a few months of the year generally, and in India the rest of the time. She only comes over to spend time with the girls. After Joe she just couldn’t bear it, you know?’

‘I can imagine,’ I said. ‘Well, I can’t.’

‘Right. Better go and see what’s happening,’ said Gus. ‘But thanks so much, Ariel. And sorry to talk about my brother like that. I don’t usually, least of all on the doorstep. You’re a wonderful find. Not sure how Abby discovered you, but we’re all glad she did.’

‘I put notes through doors offering babysitting work,’ I said. While you were out jogging on the field just over there, I didn’t say. ‘I tried to target houses that had kids, so it was that car that got you one.’ I nodded at the battered red-and-yellow pedal car that was on the gravelly front garden.

‘Oh, that old thing!’ Gus laughed. ‘I should get rid of it. Look at it! It was Joe’s and mine when we were little. We loved it so much that Dad kept it for imaginary future grandchildren, and now even they’re too old for it. Time marches on, I guess.’

I pictured a toddler Joe playing in it, scooting himself along with his feet, feeling like the coolest guy with his own car, and smiled.

‘It does,’ I said.

On the way home I got my phone out to read Izzy’s messages. Or at least I would have done, if she’d sent any. I had been so certain she would have fired me loads of things about Joe, and the girls, but she hadn’t sent anything.

Her life wasn’t all about me.

I had no idea where Izzy was or what she was doing. She hadn’t told me who she was meeting at five. I sent a quick one saying Thanks for listening, can’t wait to hear your news, but she didn’t reply to that either.

When I got home, Sasha said, ‘What’s up with you? Izzy was worrying about you. I called her back after work, but she said that actually everything was OK. All a bit mysterious. Is everything all right?’

‘Yes. It really is. She was concerned about me, but we talked and it was just a misunderstanding.’

Sasha nodded. ‘OK. How was babysitting? What’s for dinner?’

I looked at the fifteen pounds I’d just earned and said, ‘A takeaway.’ While we waited for a curry delivery I sent another message to Izzy: