It was later on Tuesday afternoon when Isaac parked his car behind The Three Fishes. He glanced at Hayley in the passenger seat, her floral bag at her feet, tubes passing to it from beneath her shirt and coat. ‘Sure you’re going to be OK with this?’

Though pallid, she managed a smile. ‘I’m just grateful your boss is letting you move me in. I’d hate you to have risked your job—’ Her sentence stalled, a flush fanning her cheeks.

It took Isaac a moment to realise she must have remembered that his job at The Three Fishes and the events leading up to it had been a tricky subject. It all seemed so far in the past now. ‘It seems a reasonable solution,’ he said, removing his keys from the ignition. ‘I’ve never looked in the guest accommodation you’re going to have but I think it’ll be OK. Tina said she’d leave it clean and tidy for you.’

Upstairs, they found Tina had left the keys to the second guest room in the door. The room was done out in shades of lavender; there was a rip in the wallpaper near the bed but otherwise it was OK. The bathroom held a shower cubicle, which would give Hayley somewhere to stand and wash, her drain bag hanging beside her while he held a bowl of soapy water and looked the other way.

‘You sit yourself down and I’ll bring your stuff up.’ Isaac watched as Hayley sat down in the grey wing-backed chair near the window then began ferrying her stuff upstairs.

‘How are you doing?’ he asked half an hour later, when her clothes were put away and the TV was working.

‘Knackered,’ she said frankly, giving him a wan smile. ‘Thank you, Isaac. Thanks a lot. I think I’m going to lie down and try and nap. I’m a lot more comfortable with the first drain out.’

‘I’m going into my room next door to check I have clean work clothes, then I’m going down to touch base with Tina when she’s opened for the evening session. If you want anything, ring me. I’ll only be twenty seconds away.’

Hayley levered herself gingerly from the chair and headed for the bed while he took one of the room keys before heading for his own space. He did have to do the things he’d outlined to Hayley but he had something else to do too.

Letting himself into his room, which felt like a sanctuary after the past four days, he rang Lily.

She didn’t pick up but her voicemail invited him to leave a message after the beep.