‘I haven’t noticed anything inappropriate,’ I say, feeling foolish. And then I have a cold sensation that shivers down the nape of my neck as I recall the sounds coming from the shed in the garden. I’d assumed it was Joe and Bethany. Could it have been Joe and Chloe?

‘Really?’ he says, and his relief makes me feel like a complete tool.

‘He’s heading back home tomorrow.’

‘Not a moment too soon,’ Matt says, wiping the sweat off his brow. ‘Not that he isn’t a nice guy. But – look, could you do me a favour and keep an eye on Chloe? I’m going to be caught up helping Amy get everything ready for the… for the – you know…’

I nod, to put him out of his misery.

‘And it’ll be much easier if it’s you. If I ask Chloe what she’s doing or where she’s going, or make the slightest comment on what she’s wearing…’ He mimes a grenade blowing up in his face.

I feel sorry for him. The embarrassing dad with the beautiful teenage daughter, who is having an affair with his ex-wife and can no longer ask Chloe’s aunt to look out for her, because he’s called her a thick bitch, so he’s left with the kid brother of the family. But if ever I start feeling annoyed with my brother-in-law, I only have to remember the fishing trip.

It was about a month or so after Ruby-May had died. Matt texted me to ask if I wanted to go fishing with him. I’ve never fished in my life. It’s not exactly top of my list of ways to spend my leisure time, and kind of weird for Matt, when he used to spend his weekends surrounded by kids in football kits doing drills and keepie-uppies. I said yes. Obviously.