‘So you just react to everything that’s happening around you. No planning, no proactive choices, just reacting. And it’s easy to get stuck in that loop.’ He should know. He’d spent a few years in that place. ‘If you want to take back control, you need to stop reacting. To her.’

‘Well, that’s very easy to say, but how do I actually do that?’

Brody’s mouth twisted. ‘Damned if I know. She’s your mother-in-law. You’ll have to work that one out on your own, just like I had to with mine.’

Anna didn’t reply straight away and, at first, he thought she was considering his advice, but when she spoke again, it was obvious her thoughts had led her down another path. ‘Are you married?’ she asked, her tone wary.

Brody knew what she was asking: Should they be talking like this? It was innocent, to be sure, but there was something about the easy intimacy they’d fallen into so quickly that would have rung alarm bells for him once upon a time.

‘No. I’m not married. Not anymore.’

‘Oh.’ She fell silent again. ‘I knew there was a reason you understood. You’ve lost someone too.’

The obvious answer was yes, he did. He had. But Brody didn’t want to give the obvious answer, so he stayed silent.

‘Was it a “her” or a “him” – the person you lost?’

He hadn’t planned on telling her anything, but then he heard himself say, ‘Her.’

There was a pause as she absorbed that fact. ‘How long ago?’

‘Nine years.’ His mouth just kept moving, despite himself. It was most strange. He put his glass down decisively. ‘Listen, Anna… I probably ought to go. Lewis is asking for a walk before we settle down for the night.’ He glanced down at Lewis, who was snoring gently at his feet and hadn’t even lifted an ear at the mention of his name. All the warmth that had gathered while he’d been talking about stupid things like sausage rolls and vol au vents drained away, leaving him more than a little disgusted with himself.

‘Oh, okay…’ Her tone was confused, and rightly so, but he wouldn’t let himself register the tinge of disappointment in it.

‘Goodb—’

‘Don’t say that word,’ she said quickly. ‘Remember?’

‘I do now,’ he said, but her answer gave him hope he hadn’t just ruined the chance of her calling back ever again. He had the feeling that the day she said it to him, he’d never hear from her again. He was glad that day wasn’t today.

‘Say something else,’ she added softly.

He thought for a moment. ‘Till next time.’

From the way she breathed, he could tell she was smiling. ‘Till next time,’ she echoed, and then she was gone. The study didn’t seem as cosy after that.

He reached down and rubbed Lewis’s belly. The dog opened one eye and yawned. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Don’t make me a worse liar than I already am. It’s time for you to go down the garden.’