Gayle’s fingertips were already on the spine of the album, but as she hesitated, Richard rose and chose a volume from the other end of the shelf. A wedding album. Anna’s heart did a little leap. ‘How about this one?’ he said, handing it to Gayle, then returned to his paper, giving Anna a treasonous wink as he passed her. Anna could have kissed him.

Gayle didn’t move for a moment, but then she turned and came to join Anna on the sofa, laying the album down on the glass and wood coffee table as they always did, then opened the cover.

The first group of pictures were of Anna on her own and with her bridesmaids, but Gayle flipped through that section of the album swiftly until she found the photos of Spencer and his best man. She took a long time looking at each shot, drinking it in, and then she carried on to those taken after the ceremony. She paused at one of Anna’s favourites: a close-up of both of them, so similar to many others taken that day, except that Spencer had an extra twinkle in his eyes and one corner of his mouth lifted slightly in mischief. Gayle let out a little sigh. ‘He looks so handsome, doesn’t he?’ she said, almost reverently.

‘Yes,’ Anna replied. He really did. Tears threatened, but she blinked rapidly, refusing to allow them to form.

She glanced across at Gayle and, seeing a similar sheen in her eyes, debated whether to reach out and touch the other woman’s arm, but she must have dithered too long, because Gayle seemed to inwardly shake herself, regaining her composure. She turned the page, and the moment was gone.

‘I think it’s time for a cup of tea,’ Gayle said when they’d finished. She rose to replace the album on the shelf. ‘Would anyone else like one?’

Anna slumped onto the sofa and let out a long sigh once Gayle had swept from the room. Richard rustled his paper and lowered the top edge so he could look at Anna. ‘You mustn’t mind her,’ he said in a low voice. ‘She doesn’t mean to be so… you know.’

Anna nodded. This was about as eloquent as Richard got.

‘She found the anniversary very hard,’ he added. ‘You wouldn’t know it to look at her, and she’d deny it if you asked, but she’s struggling.’

Anna stood up, went over to Richard, and gave him a hug. They stayed like that for a few seconds, him reaching up with his paper on his lap, her bending down over him, and then he patted her on the back, and she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

She exhaled as she stood up again. Come on, Anna. Stop being so petty. Yes, she’s a bit of a nightmare, but it’s not because she hates you. She’s hurting. Just like you are.

Anna was pretty sure she was never going to get an apology from Gayle for the ashes, but maybe she could broker a truce, allowing the current chilly awkwardness to defrost a little. Rather than sitting back down, she went into the kitchen to see if she could be of any help.