It had been odd to see him in the grip of shock, the usually incisive Isaac disorientated, repeating how hard Hayley’s situation was to take in. He’d given her a hard hug and a hot kiss goodbye and headed for airport security with just one look back, hesitating as if considering returning. But then, with an air of resignation he’d turned and joined the flood of humanity funnelling in between the barriers. Gone.

Waiting would have been pointless so, the adrenalin of the mad dash to the airport draining away and leaving her feeling surprisingly alone, she’d trailed back down to Airport Level 2 and the shuttle. Isaac had thanked her and thanked her for hustling him onto a flight and it had made her feel ashamed because under the veneer she’d known herself to be resenting a woman with breast cancer for spoiling her good time.

Last night, his bed had felt like their own special world. She’d been prepared for their time together to be short – but not just one night.

As the train rumbled away her hand ached from being jostled as they’d run. She bought a bottle of water when she changed at Zürich and took paracetamol. At Wädenswil she changed for Biberbrugg.

Carola texted: Are you OK? We’re back. Max and Garrick picked us up from Biberbrugg station.

Lily replied. All OK. Isaac got flight. I’ll be back at Biberbrugg station in twenty minutes. Will phone you tomorrow. She couldn’t face a Carola inquisition tonight.

It was nearly nine thirty when she was finally reunited with the minibus, which was covered in snow. She sighed and dug out the squeegee thing from the driver’s door and, standing on tiptoes to reach the high bits, cleared all the windows. It was trickier to get out of the parking space because selecting reverse meant pressing the gear stick down with the middle of her palm where the bruising was worst.

With a loud and violent four-lettered outburst she managed it, then followed the sat nav back to Schützenberg and Toblerstrasse, where she parked, her hand throbbing and burning. She let herself into the annexe and it was so silent that she walked down to Max’s house and collected Doggo.

She didn’t want to be alone tonight. Her spirits felt like weights slung round her ankles.

Isaac reached Hayley’s at ten minutes to midnight. He’d called Nicola from the taxi and arranged to do a handover before Nicola headed south for Cornwall, Vicky having set out already. He’d sat through the short flight in a state of unreality but now he had to get himself together.