‘Ha, surprise! Did I have you going there for a moment?’ she says with a cackle. ‘I’m so sorry, I couldn’t resist. When I got the notification from LinkedIn that you’d looked up my profile, I was so ridiculously pleased. And then when I saw you were still at your dad’s company, I thought I’d phone.’

‘And almost give me a heart attack?’ I say, relieved that it’s her. My heart’s still racing and I take a few deep breaths to try and calm it down. For a split second I’d thought it was Elizabeth on the phone.

‘I’m so sorry, it was just when I was looking up your company’s phone number online I was thinking of our summer at Hartland’s and I thought I’d have a little fun. I wonder what she’s up to? I’m sure wherever she is she’ll be there sucking the fun out of it. I bet she’s one of those Facebook trolls that joins all sorts of weird and wonderful groups and then pounces on everyone with all her negativity.’

‘Or maybe she got nicer as she grew up?’

Soph cackles again down the phone. ‘Nah. Some people are bad eggs for life.’

‘Well, whatever she’s up to, I can’t imagine she’d have a kinky subscription site.’

‘No, I’m guessing she wouldn’t. But I reckon there’d be a market for that kind of thing – you know, bossy, slightly scary. I bet she’d make a killing. Someone would find her sexy.’

I think of Joel and instantly my heart constricts.

‘So speaking of what people are up to, how are you? What’s new?’ She’s talking as if we haven’t spoken for a few weeks, rather than fifteen years. ‘Your dad must love that you’re still at the company. How is he?’

‘He’s better than he was. After Mum, well, he got in a really bad place,’ I say choosing my words carefully. ‘He’s much better now but I still like to keep an eye on him.’

‘Ah, I bet. And what about you? Are you married? Dating? Single? Other?’

‘Dating. I’m seeing a guy called Miles; he’s nice. Nothing serious at the moment.’

‘Oh, are you still at that exciting stage where you go on dates and shave your legs?’

I laugh. Soph always had that way to put you at ease and it’s like all the years are falling away.

‘I guess we are, although it’s been five months now, so we’re just starting to move out of that stage.’

‘Oh, you’re in the transition from honeymoon to real life.’

‘I guess.’ I try not to think about my reaction to the Tiffany bag. ‘How about you? I see that you’re working in Poole.’