Her sister’s voice had dropped to a dull monotone. ‘We shop in the same supermarket on the same day at the same time. We park in the same spot and buy the same food, which we eat in the same rotation each week. We go to the pub on Friday nights for two hours, then get fish and chips on the way home. Roddy has his rugby on Saturday, then there’s church on Sunday, we change the sheets on Monday … We do everything together.’ She stopped, giving a light shrug.

Connie winced. Not just at the horrendous-sounding schedule of her sister’s life, but at the weariness in Lynne’s voice. Rhodri had been a bull of a man in his youth, a talented tight-head for his local rugby team, a loud, laughing, good-natured person. He still was, to a degree. But his body had gone to seed: he was now seriously overweight and idle since retiring from BT. ‘You’re OK with that?’

Her sister didn’t reply, her face very still. ‘It is what it is,’ she said quietly. ‘I’d love to get away once in a while. But Roddy doesn’t like the heat, hates being squeezed into plane seats – which I can understand at his size – so we never go anywhere.’ She shot Connie a half-smile. ‘Not like you, gadding about all over Europe.’

Connie wasn’t sure ‘gadding’ quite described her job, but she let it go. ‘Can’t you go with a friend?’

Lynne gave a sad laugh. ‘I couldn’t leave Roddy.’

They’re living Devan’s dream, she thought, with a wry smile. Her sister appeared to be pandering to Roddy’s whim just to keep the peace. Or is it because that’s what Lynne wants to do and is blaming it on him?

‘What would happen if you did?’ Connie slid the charred chopped peppers into the saucepan with the sautéed onions and garlic, the tinned tomatoes, then lit the hob, poking a bay leaf beneath the surface and grinding in some black pepper. She would add fresh basil at the last minute.

Her sister looked as if she were confused by the question. ‘Well …’ she took a sip of wine ‘… it’s not worth the hassle, to be honest. He’d fret and I’d have to cook all the food before I went and freeze it … I’d worry about him. Even me being away tonight was winding him up.’

Connie was shocked. She laid the wooden spoon on the chopping board and turned to her. ‘That sounds dreadful, Lynne.’

‘Does it?’

Connie thought she detected tears in her sister’s blue eyes. Knowing Lynne would hate it if she went over and put an arm around her, she just said, ‘Don’t give up. You’re too young for that. Find a friend who wants to travel and plan a trip. I’ll help you.’