Somehow, I would have to make this relationship work. We had to get things back on track. Find the love again. Make things like how they were in those first few weeks.

Michael was my happily ever after.

Liberty

Okay. This house is even weirder up close. I mean, what is it? It looks like a picture Darcy would draw. Turrets stuck on here, a stained-glass guitar window added there, now let’s paint the whole thing white and gold and put fake flowers by the door.

‘So … you have something to show me inside?’ I ask, hand on Skywalker’s collar.

‘Do I ever, daughter of mine.’ Michael gives me a soft, teary smile. ‘Do I ever. Come this way.’

We head around a moat, where there’s a collection of quad bikes parked under a corrugated shelter and a butchering table with a headless rabbit on it. There are wooden bows and arrows lying around too, and a hefty-looking crossbow.

‘Ignore that,’ said Michael. ‘Just a bit of population control courtesy of my groundskeeper. We’ve got a rabbit problem.’

We pass a guitar-shaped swimming pool and reach bifolding doors leading to a huge kitchen.

‘You get a workout at this house, I can tell you,’ says Michael. ‘A lot of square footage. A lot of land. What I want to show you is this way – come on into the kitchen.’

Skywalker barks and barks.

‘Your doggy here doesn’t like new places?’ Michael asks.

‘No,’ I say. ‘He gets nervous.’

‘What about you?’ Michael asks.

‘Oh. You know. Not usually, but …’

Michael frowns. ‘I shouldn’t have walked you past all that hunting stuff.’

‘It’s okay. I get it. I grew up in the countryside. I don’t like hunting but I know it happens.’

‘And you’re okay to come inside the house? You don’t think I’m going to chop your head off, like one of those bunnies?’

I try to laugh then. ‘No. Honestly, I’m fine.’

‘You know, you don’t have to come inside at all, Liberty. We can go to a café or something. Neutral ground. Have a chat and a catch-up. But I really, really do want to show you this thing in here, that’s all.’

I take a deep breath. ‘I’m okay. Honestly. Show me.’

We’re about to cross the threshold when Diane appears, stumbling on kitten heels. I never get how women can walk on shoes like that.

Diane’s face is haggard and tense. ‘MICHAEL.’

Crinkles appear outside Michael’s sunglasses. ‘Jesus, Diane. What is it? Are you okay?’

Diane puts hands on her thighs, out of breath. ‘She’s … Lorna is at the gate.’

‘Jesus.’ Michael closes his eyes for a moment. ‘Well, it was inevitable she’d show up, wasn’t it? Only a matter of time.’

‘My mother’s here?’ I ask.

‘Yes.’ Diane nods. ‘She’s outside.’