‘Uh-huh.’ I don’t believe a word of it.

‘So, distract me from what’s going on at home. Have you had any more emails?’

‘I just got one.’

‘And? What did it say?’

‘Much the same as the first one. More about how much fun I was having with my friends and how I loved it there.’

Layla pulls the plug from the sink and the water starts to gurgle as it goes down the plughole.

‘Have you ever thought about getting back in contact with them?’

I shake my head.

She gives me a look that lets me know she doesn’t believe me.

‘From time to time, I’ve wondered what has happened to them, but I’ve never done anything about it.’

‘Well, the emails are a sign that you should! These days you can look anyone up on Facebook or Instagram.’

‘Not if you don’t have an account.’

‘I forget you don’t do social media.’ She puts her cup back in the cupboard. ‘What about LinkedIn? You have one of those profiles, right?’

‘I do, I’ve never thought of that.’

‘It’s worth considering.’

She looks at her watch and then does a theatrical sigh.

‘I really should get going, can’t put home time off forever … unless there’s some big work emergency?’ She looks hopefully at me.

‘I’ve got nothing, unless you’re much better than me at coming up with some last-minute excuse.’

‘Where’s Yas and the rest of the improv crew when you need them,’ she says with a laugh. ‘See you tomorrow?’

‘You will indeed. Have a good evening with Tim’s mum.’

She skulks off with a resigned sigh and I make my cup of tea before hurrying back to my desk to bring up LinkedIn. I’d never thought of using it for anything other than a work tool. Claire made us make profiles a few years ago and apart from looking up the odd client I haven’t used it much.

I pull up the search bar and type in ‘Sophie Marsden’ and hit return before I lose my nerve. There are several listed and it takes me a few scrolls to find the right one. But then I see one who looks familiar and works for a PR firm. The last Christmas card I had from Soph was just after she’d graduated, and she was working in PR in London. I click on the headshot and it’s unmistakably her.

It’s so strange to see adult Soph’s résumé. The list of agencies she’s worked for is impressive, and I notice her latest company is based in Poole, not far from Westerly. My hand hovers over the connect button and I’m tempted to send her a message, but what would I say?