I’m only a few yards in before I realise that my preconceptions are miles off. The houses here are large and detached, with immaculate front lawns and shiny SUVs on almost every driveway. Some even have elaborate hanging baskets outside, with bright flowers cascading down from them. Around halfway down, I have to stop behind a bright pink van with ‘Gina’s Cleaners’ written on it in a swirly font in order to let an enormous black Range Rover come the other way. It completely dwarfs the woman behind the wheel, who ignores me as she sweeps regally past.

‘No, thank you too,’ I mutter darkly as I start to pull round the van, only for my heart to jump into my throat. This road is completely devoid of actual people, apart from the one unloading what looks like shopping from the boot of a small hatchback that doesn’t fit the upmarket vibe of the rest of the street at all. As I pull level with the van, Will raises his eyes and, if the surprised expression on his face is anything to go by, my attempt at an incognito drive-by has just gone up in flames. Shit.

I’m frantically trying to think of a plausible explanation for being here as I pull over again and lower the window. My initial plan to tell him this is a street I drive down all the time is derailed when I glance further down the road and realise this is a cul-de-sac. I could pretend to know someone in one of the other houses, but that’s way too risky. I know people in these types of neighbourhoods tend to keep themselves to themselves, but it would be just my luck to pick a house at random and find Will actually knows the people that live there. In the absence of anything better, I decide to go with a version of the truth.

‘Hello, Tilly. This is a surprise.’ To my relief, Will seems curious rather than suspicious.

‘I was visiting my mum,’ I explain. ‘As I was in the area anyway, I thought I’d just check in to see how you were doing.’

‘Wow. The NHS really has upped its game. I didn’t know discharge-day home visits were part of the service now.’ He’s smiling broadly, but I can feel my skin flushing with embarrassment. ‘Are you going to switch off the engine and come in?’ he asks after an uncomfortable pause. ‘Dad would be delighted to see you.’

‘Umm, yes, of course,’ I stutter as I reach for the key.

‘I didn’t leave him on his own,’ Will says earnestly as I grab a couple of bags from the boot of his car to help. ‘The cleaner’s here, so I took the opportunity to pop to the supermarket for supplies.’

‘It’s fine,’ I reassure him. ‘I’m not checking up on you, I promise. How is he?’