I was startled awake. I grappled for my phone, it said 3.33 a.m. There was pain in my arm that was radiating up into my shoulder and neck where I had slept awkwardly. I sat up and slid my feet out of bed, straining to hear. There had been a noise, some sort of ruckus that had woken me, an echo of some sort of a crash pounded in my ears. Still with memories of Annie storming into the bedroom simmering away in my mind, I felt a rush of adrenaline shoot through my body as I got up and headed for the stairs. I walked slowly down each step, not wanting the ever-growing weight of the bump to make me topple. I reached the hallway and looked through into the lounge. I could see there was a light coming from the kitchen.

‘Annie,’ I called out. I heard another noise. Another crash and then a sound, a deep noise like an animal in pain. ‘Annie,’ I said again as I walked towards the kitchen where I could hear thumping, and the deep throaty sound. ‘Annie, are you okay?’ I said with panic in my voice. Suddenly the noise stopped. I arrived at the kitchen doorway and peered around the corner. Annie was crouched down on the floor in her dressing gown, with the pantry door open. A large saucepan was half in the pantry and half out. ‘What are you doing?’ I wondered if perhaps Annie was sleep walking again.

‘Oh, Daisy,’ Annie replied, and I blew out a sigh of relief, I didn’t fancy trying to assist her back up to bed. I came into the kitchen and stood rubbing my forehead; I squinted at the bright light of the kitchen and watched Annie crouched on the floor.

‘What are you doing, Annie? Its three-thirty in the morning. I thought we had burglars.’

‘I suddenly realised it’s the end of January and I hadn’t made my annual batch of Seville marmalade.’ Annie’s voice was high and strained. Annie lifted the heavy bottomed saucepan onto the kitchen counter. Even at three in the morning I could see how she lifted from her knees and not from her back. The strength of the woman was uncanny.

‘You’re not making it now, surely?’ It wouldn’t have surprised me though if she were.

‘I’m just checking what I have. I’m popping out to the shops tomorrow.’

I rubbed my eyes. ‘And this couldn’t wait until the morning?’

‘Oh, you know me, dear. I’m a night owl. Go back to bed, Daisy. I’m fine.’ Annie’s voice was strained. She waved me away with her hand.

Still half-asleep, I turned and walked out of the kitchen and back to bed.

I woke again about eight, pulled Ben’s big chunky cardigan around me and went downstairs to the kitchen. I found Annie sitting at the kitchen table looking out of the window.