He looks at her, wondering if he’s ever truly known her, feeling the indomitable strength of her will.

‘One thing, though,’ he says, hitching his chair so that he can see the screen. ‘I’d rather you don’t mention this to Cara until after the party tomorrow night. I don’t want everyone talking about this before we’ve had enough time to discuss it properly.’

He can see Judith considering this, seeing the wisdom of it whilst believing that she’s won a point because he hasn’t rejected it out of hand. She nods, starts to show him properties. Max picks up his mug and begins to drink his tea, wondering how Cara and Sam will react to this suggestion, trying to prepare himself for the battle ahead.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Alistair and Cosmo make the changeover at Totnes Station again but this time it’s in reverse. Cosmo is taking his bag from the car as Al comes off the platform and he can see that Cosmo is not in that ebullient mood of their last meeting. He is slightly uncomfortable, brittle.

‘Hi,’ Al says, swinging his own bag into the back of the car, giving Cosmo their usual one-arm hug. ‘I’m sorry you’re dashing off. I thought you were going to show me the sights. By now, you must know Salcombe much better than I do.’

‘I know.’ Several expressions pass over Cosmo’s face: embarrassment, apology, confusion. ‘It just seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.’

Al watches him, remembering Cosmo’s pleas for help when Becks announced her impromptu visit and the reasons that he didn’t want her there. It’s clear that the weekend Cosmo spent in London with her must have alleviated any fears she might have had, but still Al doesn’t quite trust him.

‘So how’s Amy?’ he asks casually, as Cosmo shuts the car door and hands him the keys.

Cosmo hesitates, shakes his head. ‘If you want the truth, I’m in a mess.’

For a moment he looks so confused, so desperate, that all the instincts of an old familiar friendship reassert themselves and Al feels a stab of sympathy for him.

‘What’s the problem?’ he asks, almost impatiently. ‘Are you in love with her or something? If so, why are you rushing away to Becks? Why don’t you just tell Amy the truth?’

‘Because I don’t know what the truth is,’ Cosmo almost shouts. He glances quickly round to see if anyone is watching him. ‘Sorry, mate. I know I’m behaving like a complete arsehole but I simply don’t know what to do.’

‘You mean you can’t choose between them?’

‘It’s not that simple.’ Frustrated, Cosmo thrusts his fingers through his hair. ‘It’s like I’m living in parallel universes. London and Becks. Salcombe and Amy.’

‘And you want the best of both worlds?’

Cosmo stares at him. ‘I suppose I do.’