‘I got a phone call from Joel last night, asking if I’d be a witness for the wedding. Brett’s got a last-minute gig in Cornwall and I said I’d fill in.’

‘Oh.’ I’m willing my mouth not to give the game away but my bottom lip is starting to wobble. ‘I’d forgotten that was today.’

‘Yeah, eleven o’clock. We thought it was safer that I took an earlier train down this morning, less temptation, you know, after the last time. Just in case.’

‘Ah, yes. I’m not sure the buffet trolley sells booze at this time of the morning.’

‘Silver linings.’ He shrugs. He starts to tap his fingers on the table. ‘I’m actually a little chuffed that he asked me. Not many people know about the wedding, because of the whole visa thing, so I’m honoured that he trusts me,’ he says, lowering his voice. ‘I know that his mum for instance didn’t want to know anything about it.’

‘Is that right?’

‘Oh, aye.’

‘Douglas, you do realise that you just went really Scottish then?’

‘Did I? I blame my mother for that. Suz always used to tell me that whenever there was any piece of gossip, I turned into my mother. We’d always joke and say I’d make the worst spy ever, as everyone would know my tell as soon as I started to open my mouth.’

‘How is that all going by the way? Did you speak to her?’

He nods slowly.

‘I did, I told her the truth in the end and she actually thanked me for being honest. She’s pleased that I’m getting help, and whilst it hasn’t changed anything right now – I’m still having to go through the courts to see Isla – I feel like at least we’re being honest with each other for the first time in a long while.’

‘Honesty is always a good thing.’

‘Hmm,’ he says. He gives me an extra-long hard stare and I think he knows exactly why I’m on the train. My cheeks start to burn and I can only imagine I’ve gone bright red.

We talk for some time about my plans to leave the company, about teaching, and about Douglas’s brother Jake and what detoxing at his house has been like – anything to really avoid talking about why I’m really here. But there’s no getting away from it in my mind. Every time the train pulls into a station, it’s one step closer to the wedding and the nerves are starting to grow.

We’re about halfway into the journey when the train pulls to a stop. I look out of the window, expecting to see a station, but all I can see are fields. The voice of the train guard crackles out of the speakers.