Then she sat and waited. Numb. Sad. Alone again.

Gordon arrived a short time later. ‘Are you all right, Mrs Carlton?’

‘Yes. I was half-expecting something like this. He tried to hide it but he wasn’t at all well.’

‘No. He knew he hadn’t long to live. Heart condition. He wouldn’t let them do anything else, said he’d had enough treatment.’

‘Sometimes people know when it’s their time. I’d better move my things out of the house and go home again.’

‘There’s no hurry. Look, if I put you in a taxi, can you go back and wait for me? Shall I ring your niece?’

‘No. I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself. Victor’s car is still at the shopping centre, though. Someone should fetch it. I can’t take it back. I’m not allowed to drive yet.’

‘I’ll send Peter from the office. Do you have a key to my uncle’s house?’

‘Yes.’

He hesitated. ‘My uncle asked me to keep an eye on you if anything happened to him. Are you OK with that?’

‘He was always one to plan ahead.’

Gordon gave her a sad smile. ‘Oh, yes. All his financial matters are in order, the funeral planned, everything. I’ve things to do here then I’ll set it all going. Will you be all right staying there till tomorrow morning? I’ll come round and speak to you then and help you make plans.’

‘I’ll be fine.’ She didn’t feel sure of that, was daunted at the thought of clearing out her house and selling it on her own, but she wasn’t going to admit it, not to anyone.

The house seemed very still without Victor smiling at her, chatting, making countless pots of tea. She was glad they’d had the time together before he died.

Now, she was the only one left of the four friends who’d met when they were so young.

How quickly life passed!

One thing she was certain about. She wasn’t going to ask her niece for help this time. Somehow she’d manage.

If only she had more spare money, though! That lack was going to make the necessary changes more difficult.

That evening she rang her niece and told her that Victor had died and she was moving back home.

There was a silence, then Mary asked in a tight voice, ‘Do you need any help?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘Let me know if you do.’

‘I’ll be fine.’

‘I won’t try to put you in a home again.’

But Mary would still try to organise things her way. ‘I know. I’ll bear you in mind if I do need help, but I’ll be fine.’

Just as she was going to bed, Gordon rang. ‘I’d like to come round tomorrow at about ten o’clock, if that’s all right with you.’

‘Yes. I’m always up at six, so come whenever you like after that.’

He’d want her out of the house. And that was one thing she could do on her own, pack, get ready to leave.