I just about caught the tiniest flicker of a smile.

‘While I’ve not had much luck on my side, I’ve not exactly helped matters by making one stupid decision after another.’

‘Was leaving your boyfriend and coming here stupid?’

Leanne took a slow sip of tea. The summer air was starting to cool as the sun sank below the far edge of the forest, and she huddled further down in her seat. ‘It would have killed me, in the end, if I’d stayed. Either the violence or the drugs. So, no. Even though I’ve spent plenty of time wondering what the hell I’m doing here, and hated myself for what it’s doing to my little girl, I had to leave.’

At the mention of drugs, a tendril of anxiety slithered down the back of my neck.

‘But I brought that monster into our home in the first place. I stayed with him as long as I did. So it was still my fault.’

I took a slow breath, before deciding that I had nothing to lose in reciprocating Leanne’s honesty. ‘I’m starting to realise that my mum was emotionally abusive. She controlled my entire life, up until I moved here. I lost my twenties doing what she wanted, being who she wanted me to be. I could blame her for it, accuse her of sabotaging any chance I had at happiness, but I was an adult, responsible for my own choices. Any power she had over me was because I gave it to her.’

‘It’s not that easy, though, is it?’ Leanne shook her head. ‘Any person who’s been abused could say the same thing. Blame themselves for not walking away.’ She gave another, more vigorous shake. ‘No. I know the courage it takes to escape that, when your confidence has been shredded, one insult, one kick at a time, until you feel like less than nothing. And for me, it was some leech I’d known for five minutes. Your mum is a whole different story.’

‘I had a job, at least, and friends not too far away. Leanne, I don’t know how you’ve managed to pick yourself up from nothing, and survive this long all on your own, but I want you to know that you’ve got me as a friend.’

She raised one straggled eyebrow. ‘You might not say that if you knew me. I’m not most respectable people’s first choice of friend.’

‘Well, I don’t exactly have a lot to compare you to, so I’m prepared to take the risk. Besides,’ I added after a moment. ‘Ebenezer seems to think you’re worth looking out for. He even strung up this washing line.’

‘Ebenezer?’

‘In Middle Cottage. That’s what Joan calls him.’

Leanne slowly swivelled her head to face me. ‘Ollie, no one lives in Middle Cottage. It’s been empty for years.’