She felt in that moment that she’d forfeited any agency over her life. She was at everyone’s mercy, now. If Devan chose not to see her again, that was his prerogative. If Caitlin cut her out of her life, that was hers too. If Jared decided to find her and stalk her again, he could do that. And if Tessa didn’t fancy having her in the house, then she could ask her to leave. She could – and would at some stage, when she’d had time to think – put up a fight to save her marriage. But Connie liked to be in control. It was as if Jared had loosened the strings on her life. In giving in to him, she had temporarily lost her grip on everything else, including the person she felt she used to be.

Tessa’s house was in a quiet terrace a short walk down the hill from the tube station. Half brick, half white stucco, it had steps up to the front door and area steps down to a half basement. Connie, feeling like a refugee, hauled her case to the top of the flight and rang the bell. The street was almost empty mid-morning, eerily silent after the crowded busyness of the main road – just minutes away – with its numerous shops and cafés.

She hesitated before pressing the small brass bell, trying to settle herself to greet her friend. She felt as if her head was lying in a thousand pieces, but she didn’t want to appear crazy before she’d had a chance to explain. When she’d asked if she could stay, she’d merely said she needed a few days away. Beyond that, she couldn’t focus.

Nobody answered. She waited, then rang again. Nothing. Connie pulled out her phone. Tessa’s mobile went to answer. She frowned. It was cold on the steps, the winter sun now fallen behind the houses. Although she’d managed to keep herself together thus far, she knew she was on the edge, just dying to be safe inside Tessa’s house, maybe with a glass of wine, a hot bath, a bed on which she could rest for an hour or two. She felt tears stinging behind her eyes and blinked them away, imagining the neighbours tweaking the wooden slats of their blinds – the modern-day equivalent of nets – and wondering who this peculiar woman was, loitering outside Tessa’s front door with a suitcase and in tears.