Kate came home from her early shift with just enough time to stop at Iris’s before heading to Ramsbourne. It was the day of the vote. Kate had emailed everyone explaining that one person wanted to withdraw, and they needed to get together to decide what they were going to do next.

She quickly grabbed some juice out of the fridge and, seeing Becky in her woolly hat, decided to call Adam again. It would be the third time since the day of the conference.

One ring, two . . . four . . . seven . . . She held her breath.

‘Hi, this is Adam. If you leave me a nice message, I’ll call you back.’

‘No, you bloody won’t,’ she muttered, hanging up. She gulped down the juice and headed out.

Kate was feeling guilty as she walked up Iris’s path. It had been a while since she’d spent any time with her and today, she only had half an hour before she had to go and catch her train.

There was no answer when she rang the doorbell. She tried again, but nothing. Kate stepped back a moment to check the window – yes, Constanza had been put away. She got her phone from her bag and rang Iris’s number. She could hear another phone ringing and pulled her mobile from her ear – it was Iris’s phone in the house, responding to her call. Then she heard something else. A faint cry. ‘Help!’

Kate quickly got out her bunch of keys, found Iris’s Yale and put it in the lock.

‘Are you OK?’ she called out, as she hurried inside.

‘In here,’ said Iris.

Her voice had come from the living room. Kate ran in and found Iris lying on her side on the floor. She flew over to her. ‘What happened?’

‘Hips. Or was it knees?’

‘Oh my God. Here, I’ll lift you under the arms.’

She put her hands under Iris’s armpits and could just about get her upright. With her help, Iris managed to shuffle over to the armchair.

‘Thank goodness we had a date,’ said Iris. ‘Didn’t think I could stand it for much longer.’

‘How long had you been there?’

‘Just after lunch. I was coming in here with my Rooibos.’ Iris pointed to the carpet near the window where a mug lay on its side, its contents long cold and now staining the cream carpet.

Kate looked at Iris in dismay. ‘That was hours ago! Are you OK?’

‘I am now.’

‘Is there anything hurt?’

‘Just my pride.’

‘I’ll have to come over more often.’

‘You’ll do no such thing.’

‘But—’

‘Doesn’t matter if you come over every hour, I could fall the minute you left. Only way to stay upright is to have you live here with me.’

Kate went to speak but Iris held up a shaky hand. ‘And that, quite frankly, wouldn’t work.’ She smiled. ‘Can’t stand the way you slurp your tea.’

Kate gaped, open-mouthed. It was the first she’d heard of it; anyway, she didn’t.