So there it is. Confirmed. I should get Patricia Carmichael to record that on my phone, have it as clear evidence that what I thought was the biggest thing to ever happen to me was quite the opposite to Jack. How had I judged my own life so spectacularly wrong? All this grief, all this pain: what’s it been for? A fantasy? God, I almost lost my best friend, my career, ruined my brother’s wedding for my mum …

‘There’s more coffee,’ Trish says.

‘No, thanks. You don’t need me hanging around.’ I know now that I’ve lingered long enough, and I’m ashamed. ‘Look, I owe you a fair amount of rent. Please don’t think I’d ever rip you off. And I know I’m here to sign a tenancy, but it’s probably best if I find somewhere else to live; get a clean break. Please send me your bank details. I can transfer today. All I ask is that you give me time to find—’

‘Chloe?’ I hear from behind me. John. He places his empty mug on the island, silently. ‘You weren’t a secret. Jack was just making sure you’d be ready. It wouldn’t have been a picnic.’ He flicks his head in the direction of where his wife is standing and on cue, she rolls her eyes.

‘Jack must have loved you very much,’ John adds.

Trish lets out a sigh as if John has lowered the tone, polluting the air with the ‘L’ word. She leaves the room, giving me a careless tatty-bye-toodle-oo wave, and heads into the lounge to join Freddie.

‘I wish you were right, John,’ I say, softly. ‘I hope you’re right.’

I say goodbye with an air of false confidence, like I can see myself out, and leave John alone with the wildflowers and coffee aroma. As I reach the front door, I hear Trish telling Freddie to mute that damn thing, and then silence crash lands.

‘What was the business with the Thai man, Chloe?’ Trish shouts, matter-of-fact. I can see her from the hallway, Freddie’s head in her lap, stroking his hair. ‘That photo. I recall you talking about it, just after he died, but I can’t remember the details. Do you know about this, Freddie?’

Freddie doesn’t respond. I think he may be asleep.

‘Just a touristy photo Jack took when we were in Bangkok. Quite a common snap.’

‘Oh. What a letdown.’ Trish twists her head around to display her disappointment and John leans against the kitchen door, his arms folded. ‘I thought you were going to tell me something magical.’

I laugh a little, kindly. ‘You and Jack. Two peas in a pod.’

‘What do you mean?’