‘Umm, excuse me, I do believe some people have forgotten something.’

With that, both the children ran at me and flung their arms around me, laughing as they did so. ‘Love you!’

I bent down to them, peppering each of their heads with lots of little kisses. ‘I love you too. See you soon.’

I waited at the door until the car turned out of sight halfway down the driveway, then closed the front door, trying not to think about the silence that suddenly surrounded me once more.

* * *

I knew that moving out of the city had been the right decision after everything that happened, and I still loved this place. I had from the moment I saw it. From outside, it looked wonderfully and authentically Georgian, built by an architect who adored the style as a pet project for a client who had given him free rein. Except that when it came to it, the client decided that wasn’t what he was after at all and that in fact he wanted not just the latest technology inside, but also a modern-looking exterior to reflect it. The house, consequently, never lived in, went on the market the day I decided to move from the city. In contrast to the original client, I loved the idea that all the modern amenities and energy efficient technology could be wrapped up in such an authentically period-accurate house. I didn’t even look at anything else. This had felt right the moment I stepped in. I’d got a sense of peace and security and the large grounds gave me the privacy I craved.

Felix and Poppy, I knew, had their reservations but, on the other hand, it was far closer to them and the children and shamelessly, I used this excuse to talk them round. Not that they would have stopped me buying it. I’d already paid the deposit by the time I told them, anyway, but it did go some way to easing their anxieties that I’d be rattling around in a big house on my own and that it was a lot to look after. I’d promised I’d get a cleaner and a gardener to help me and they appeared satisfied with that.