From somewhere in the house comes a faint murmuring. Ross must have forgotten to turn the TV off. I get up and make my way downstairs. My head feels fuzzy this morning. Ross was tossing and turning half the night and so I didn’t sleep particularly well either. He said he felt uncomfortable, knowing that Catherine was on the other side of our bedroom wall. He didn’t even want to make love, which is most definitely a first. Ross always wants to make love.

As I reach the bottom step and turn, a shape materializes at the end of the hall. For one heart-stopping moment, I think it’s an intruder. But it’s only Catherine. I thought she’d have left for work by now.

“Morning,” she says, in a cheerful singsong voice. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” She laughs, prettily. “Told you I was a ninja.”

She’s carrying her breakfast into the living room. “Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve helped myself to cornflakes and coffee. I’ll buy my own food from now on, though. I don’t expect you to feed me as well as give me a roof over my head.”

“Of course I don’t mind. And you’re very welcome to eat with us in the evenings if you want to.”

She shakes her head. “I couldn’t. Last night was great, but I don’t always know what I’m going to be doing in the evenings and I don’t want to put you out.”

She settles herself onto the sofa, the bowl of cereal in her lap. I’d have probably sat up at the table if I were in her position—a guest in someone else’s house—but I don’t really mind. I like eating on the sofa, too. Always have done. Mum used to tut about finding crumbs down the sides of the cushions.

“Alice used to love eating her breakfast in front of the telly,” she says wistfully.

It still feels a bit awkward talking about Alice. Then again, Alice is the thread that connects us, so it’s hardly surprising. And Catherine obviously feels comfortable talking about her.

“Her favorite cereal was Rice Krispies,” she says. “I used to tell her off for sticking her hand straight into the box and pulling out a handful to eat dry. Not that she ever took any notice.”

She does a sad little laugh. Then she gives me a quizzical look. “If you don’t mind me saying so, Lizzie, you look a bit tired this morning. Why don’t you sit down and let me make you a cup of tea and some toast?”

I shake my head, but she’s having none of it.

“Look, you and Ross have been kind enough to let me stay. The very least I can do is bring you a cup of tea now and again.”