As the gates opened for the second time that morning and Ben drove out of the driveway, he looked straight towards Charlotte and their eyes locked. Flushing bright red with embarrassment, she scrambled to duck down in her seat again but it was too late. He’d definitely seen her. Hardly daring to look, she raised her eyes to see that he had pulled up in front of her and was getting out of the car.

‘Oh shit, oh shit,’ she murmured to herself, her mind racing for a plausible explanation as to why she was sitting outside his house like some sort of creepy stalker. Ben walked up to her window and knocked, a look of suspicion on his face.

Charlotte lowered the window, well aware that by now her face was a deep shade of crimson. She felt momentarily weak with humiliation. ‘Hi, Ben,’ she managed, unable to meet his eye.

‘Hi.’ He frowned and bent forward slightly, looking into the car to see if there was anyone else there. ‘Um, what are you doing here, Charlotte?’

Still, nothing plausible would come to mind, so Charlotte made a snap decision that honesty was the best – and only – policy. ‘I’ve come to see you.’

Ben frowned again. ‘OK.’ He paused before continuing. ‘Well, two things,’ he began, frowning. ‘Firstly, why didn’t you text me to say you were coming? And secondly, why are you sitting out here, rather than just, say, ringing the doorbell?’

There was a slight flicker of amusement in his eyes and Charlotte couldn’t help smiling. ‘I’m sorry. It’s a long story. I was worried about you. We all are,’ she added. ‘So I volunteered to come and see you, as I live the closest, just to make sure you were OK. But as soon as I got here, I realized it was a daft idea and I shouldn’t have come. Sorry,’ she said again.

Ben nodded slowly and glanced back towards his own car. ‘OK.’ He hesitated again. ‘Look, we were just off to the park. Do you want to join us?’

Charlotte cleared her throat. She really didn’t want to stay now that she had seen Ben and noted that he and Bella seemed fine together, but she couldn’t think of a way to say so. ‘Um … OK,’ she said instead. ‘You lead the way and I’ll follow.’

Ben smiled and nodded. ‘It’s not far, only a few minutes’ drive, so I guess I’ll see you there?’

Charlotte nodded, still hot with shame. ‘See you there.’

By the time she got out of the car at the deserted park, Elodie was already on a little rocking horse, laughing and chattering to no one in particular, as she rocked backwards and forwards. Ben was standing beside her, looking on proudly.

‘Looks like you might have a little jockey in the making there!’ Charlotte said, as she joined him. It was a bright but chilly day and she stamped her feet a couple of times to try to kick-start some body heat.