Charlotte frowned. ‘No, Ben. You weren’t a nightmare at all. You were great.’

Ben sighed before looking up and meeting her eye. ‘I wasn’t great enough for you to stay, though, was I?’

His words cut through Charlotte like a knife. ‘There was never anything wrong with you, Ben. It was me. I just went a bit loopy after dad died. It made me question everything, including our relationship. I can’t explain it, but I can promise you that it was nothing you did wrong.’

Ben nodded slowly. ‘Good to know, I guess.’

‘So why do you think you’ve changed so much?’ Charlotte prompted, wanting to keep him talking, sensing that he desperately needed to talk to someone.

‘I don’t think I’ve changed that much,’ Ben said, frowning to himself. ‘And even if I have, it’s probably due to having a child. Having a wife. It changes you. You can’t just carry on as you were – you have to adapt to your different circumstances.’

‘Matt and Freya don’t seem any different since Bertie came along,’ Charlotte countered.

‘Don’t they?’ Ben’s tone was wistful, full of longing and regret.

‘No. They’re just the same, with the addition of another little person. The only difference is that they miss you, particularly Matt.’

‘I miss them, too.’ The words came out automatically and Ben instinctively put a finger to his lips, as if to silence himself.

‘You don’t have to miss them, Ben. All you have to do is pick up the phone and they’ll be there, just like they always were.’

Ben gave a wan smile. ‘It’s not that simple.’

‘It is!’ Charlotte shot back. ‘It’s as simple as you want to make it.’

Ben didn’t reply and Charlotte could tell that his thoughts were rampaging through his head. Bella’s control and influence over him were clearly stronger than she had ever imagined and Charlotte knew from experience that you didn’t manage to exert that kind of control over another person without using something stronger than just words.

They sat in silence for a while longer, listening to the rustle of the autumn breeze blowing through the trees, dislodging reddened leaves that floated down and carpeted the damp grass. There wasn’t much more she could do, other than reassure him that she would be there for him if he ever needed her. She started to get up and Ben’s hand flew to her arm. ‘Are you going?’ His eyes widened in panic.

‘Yes, I think I probably should.’ Charlotte stood up and put her cold hands deep into her pockets. She fixed Ben with a sympathetic look. ‘But, please will you promise to call me if you ever need to talk? You’ve got my number and I will always, always take your call. And text me so that I’ve got your new number, too, eh?’

Ben’s face creased and she thought for a moment that he might cry. ‘What? What’s the matter, Ben? Talk to me.’ She sat back down beside him and this time, she took his hand in hers. She could feel him trembling.