That stopped her. ‘Has something happened?’ The words exploded out of her like fireworks, her eyes saucers. She’d have loved nothing more than for me to have seen or felt evidence of a spiritual visitation; to have good reason to ‘cleanse’ the space; to bring the troupe of aunties around to do whatever they did to release trapped spirits. I knew because it was her favourite topic. If you let her, my mother-in-law would go on and on about the secrets that old houses possessed; the spirits. ‘Energy never dies’ was Meena’s mantra. Needless to say, she and Clive lived in a new-build.

I gave a little side-eye. ‘God, no! My friend Grace is staying. From university. She came last night.’

‘Oh,’ said Meena, with a sag of the shoulders. She nodded slowly and looked back up the stairs as if Grace might miraculously appear. ‘Rohan must have mentioned it, but I forgot. How long is she staying?’

‘Until she finds her feet, or Rohan gets back,’ I said. ‘But the main thing is, you don’t need worry about me. I have company.’ I smiled.

‘What does she do? Your friend?’

‘She’s a doctor.’

Meena nodded approvingly. ‘Okay, okay,’ she said, opening the front door. ‘I was just worried about you, that’s all.’ She gave a little laugh and a waggle of her head. ‘But if you’re not alone…’

‘I’m not alone. But thanks for checking. ’Bye, now. I’ll call you.’

‘Here, enjoy this with your friend.’ She thrust the bag at me and I closed the door and stood with my back against it.

‘Who was that?’ Grace’s voice rang down the stairs.

‘Just my mother-in-law!’ I shouted back.

‘Checking up on you?’ Grace appeared on the landing, still in her pyjamas, hair all over the place. ‘What, doesn’t she trust you without the wonderful Rohan? Anyway, sorry I’m so late. That blasted cat of yours was yowling outside my room half the night.’

She found a wholefood market on the internet.

‘It’s only a few miles away,’ she said. ‘Do you mind if I stock up on a few basics?’

‘Be my guest.’ I leaned against the kitchen counter. The morning had brought me positivity. I was stronger now. I knew what I was dealing with. I could cope with Grace.

‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Great. Let me grab a coffee and I’ll shower then we can go.’

‘Don’t be daft. You can order online,’ I laughed, but Grace gave me a look.

‘I don’t trust some teenager on minimum wage not to do something idiotic like substitute quinoa with lentils,’ she said, widening her eyes at the thought. ‘Besides, I want to choose my food myself. It’s part of the pleasure of eating. Come on, it’ll be fun. Unless you’re painting?’

‘No. It’s fine,’ I said, looking out at the rain. ‘I’ll call a cab.’