‘Oh, you can’t do that. You’ll be shattered.’ The words came out before she had a chance to think, but she didn’t like the idea of him driving back tired after all that work. ‘You could stay.’ What was she saying? Alarm bells were going off in her head as she spoke. ‘On the sofa. That’d be fine,’ she clarified. There, he couldn’t misconstrue that. Yes, he’d helped and she really appreciated that. She’d count him as a friend, one that probably still had a girlfriend in tow, and she needed to keep things totally clear between them and above board.

‘Okay. Well, cheers. If you don’t mind, that would help and save me a couple of hours’ drive. I can start a bit earlier in the morning that way too, as there’s still a fair bit to do. I’m not quite as quick as Andy would have been. But needs must.’

‘You’ve been great, that’s all I know.’ She had to admit that much; his help tonight was just amazing.

‘Thanks … and the sofa is absolutely fine for me. Em,’ he started, just as she was going to clear some empty mugs to the kitchen, ‘about Siobhan. It really is over, you know. It has been since August, since before I came back to see you.’

‘Right … but why would she say it wasn’t?’

‘Wishful thinking, maybe. Hoping I’d come back. I went to see her the other night, though. The day after I’d seen you.’

Strangely, Emma felt her heart sink a little.

‘I went to make it absolutely clear. That there’s no going back this time. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that.’

‘Oh.’ Could she really believe him? It was such a messy situation. All those bloody emotions were going crazy inside her again. She hated feeling out of control, confused. Well, this changed nothing.

She went to let Alfie out into the back yard whilst Max tidied some of the tools and equipment ready for the next day. Alfie came back in, delighted to see Max again, sneaking through to the shop where he wasn’t normally allowed, curling around Max’s legs and thwacking his eager tail against him, having been kept upstairs all the while, out of hammer and harm’s way.

They were both pretty shattered, so Emma took Alfie back upstairs and set up a duvet and pillows ready for Max in the lounge. It was quite a big sofa, but ten minutes later she smiled as she passed the open door spotting his legs and feet poking out over the arm end. She noted he’d kept his socks on.