On an impulse she takes her phone from her pocket and dials Charley’s number.

‘Hi, Ames,’ says Charley. ‘How are you doing?’

At the sound of her voice Amy takes a deep, relieved breath. She feels calmer already.

‘I’m OK,’ she says, ‘but it would be great to see you before next Thursday. I’m just finishing a job in Kingsbridge. Could we get a sandwich together? I can be in Totnes in about twenty minutes.’

‘Not a problem. I’m working at the Potting Shed this morning and I’m going to lunch in about fifteen minutes, so suppose we meet in the Terrace Coffee Shop? Take it carefully, hon.’

‘Thanks,’ says Amy. ‘Honestly, that’s just great. See you there.’

She puts her phone away, still feeling this weird kind of madness, as if the world is in a sharper relief, that she is more aware of everything and everyone around her. Charley is the one person Amy can talk to right now. Charley’s such a kind, happy, good person. She used to listen for hours when Amy talked about what it was like to lose her mum, what it was like never to have that kind of support and maternal love. Charley listened, made endless cups of coffee, and put the world into some kind of perspective for Amy. And the really good thing was that Charley was never pious or critical because she, in her turn, had problems of her own and was always ready to talk about them, so that Amy felt it really was a friendship and she didn’t have to feel grateful, or foolish because she was younger.

As she says goodbye, gets into the car and drives away towards Totnes she is wondering how she could manage a meeting between Cosmo and Charley, to see her reaction and hear what she thinks about him. It’s impossible to imagine introducing him to Dad; not yet, anyway. She needs to feel more confident. Perhaps, once she’s talked to Charley, she might be more ready to move forward.

Charley comes out of the Potting Shed and walks the few yards to the Terrace Coffee Shop. She enjoys her part-time job, likes chatting to the customers buying bulbs and plants, or garden equipment or bird food, likes sharing a joke with Matt and Jane. She’s also enjoying her two days a week as a classroom assistant at the local primary school. Since Simon’s been working in Gloucestershire she’s been lonely, confused as to where she should be directing her life, and it’s good to have work, to have a purpose.