The dog raced off towards the car the second Brody reached for his keys. Brody followed him, trudging towards his ancient Land Rover with his box full of hope and joy. At least one of them was looking forward to this trip.

THE SUN WAS still low on the horizon, colouring it with broad streaks of lemon and peach, when Brody pulled into the public car park behind the High Street in Totnes. Since the place was virtually empty, he chose a space close to the exit. He turned the engine off and sat there, staring straight ahead. Lewis, who had been curled up in the back, jumped through to the passenger seat, looked at him and woofed.

Brody looked back at him. ‘I know,’ he said wearily. ‘Give me a minute.’

He’d caught a segment on television a few months ago, something about wellbeing and mental health. What had the slick-looking, white-smiled TV doctor said about calming yourself down in stressful situations? Something about breathing? The need for mental preparation? He’d been determined not to pay attention to the segment, but it seemed as if some of the information must have sunk in anyway.

And as he sat there not remembering, he was aware of his heart pumping, rapidly but not uncontrollably, in his chest. The bottom half of his lungs seemed to be closed for business, causing him to suck air in through his nostrils and release it again unwillingly. His hands, which gripped the steering wheel, were starting to get clammy.

But he couldn’t stay here like this, frozen, all day. The shops would be opening soon and he wanted to be driving back towards the moor, foot pressing pleasingly on the accelerator, when that moment came.

He glanced across at Lewis. ‘Just do it, right?’

Lewis cocked his head and barked joyfully. Brody swore he’d never met a dog so unfailingly enthusiastic and optimistic. It was almost sickening.

He took a deep breath and opened the car door. The first thing that struck him was the noise, even though it was early and hardly any cars or people were about. There was a hum in the air, the particular collective reverberation of people living and working in close proximity. When his home had been in the city, he wouldn’t even have noticed the sounds – just part of the wallpaper of life – but compared to his cottage on the moor, even the rumble of a distant car a few streets away seemed noticeable and loud.

Had he really lived in London for all those years? It seemed like a different person who’d done that.

He quickly retrieved the box full of toys from the boot and, taking Lewis with him on his lead, navigated the back streets and alleyways, ending up at the rear of a shop near the bottom of the narrow, steep High Street.

He placed his cargo down by the back door and slipped an envelope with an inventory and prices for each item inside. He was just about to walk away when he paused and glanced at the door. Speaking with Anna recently had made him realize what a hermit he’d become. Instead of retracing his steps, he picked the box up again, making sure it was secure in his left arm, and rapped on the wood with his free hand.