Her legs were aching, anyway. She stood up, remaining in a crouch in order to avoid knocking her head on the ceiling. She could feel Ben watching her. Jack and Ellen didn’t turn round. She picked her way cautiously through the chaos, aiming for them. Now Jack turned. He looked a little relieved and automatically stepped out of the way.

‘Hey.’ She sounded more confident than she felt.

Ellen was inscrutable.

‘I can … I’ll go –’ Jack offered, clumsily. He pointed towards Ben, though remained hovering at the window.

Alexa still couldn’t look at Ben, in case it challenged her resolve. She nodded kindly at Jack. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

He gave her a nod in return and shuffled towards Ben’s spot on the floor.

‘Hey,’ she tried again, in a whisper, after a few seconds.

‘Hello,’ Ellen muttered, shortly. She wasn’t going to make this easy.

‘Um, I’m –’ Deep breath. ‘El?’

‘What?’ Ellen replied, quietly.

Alexa took another steadying breath. ‘Look, I’m sorry.’

Ellen remained still.

Alexa added, ‘I’m on your side.’ Her voice was trembling on the edge of a plea now.

‘Really?’ Ellen sounded flat and unconvinced.

‘Yes, really. I am.’

‘Right.’

‘Really,’ she added again, with feeling. ‘I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be a cow about it, and I know it must have been really upsetting, and just because it happened a decade ago, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter, and of course I was upset, because I like him, but I like you more, obviously.’ She said this all in a rushed mutter before she paused. ‘And, well’ – she steeled herself – ‘I get that it would be weird if I went out with him.’ She could feel that Ellen was tense. ‘So I … I won’t. If you don’t want me to.’ Alexa hoped that the boys hadn’t heard any of that, but she didn’t dare check if they had.

‘I mean it would be more than a bit weird.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’d have to see him all the time.’

‘Yes …’ She stared into the distance now, like Ellen. ‘I guess you would. Quite a lot, anyway.’

There was a long, uncomfortable pause, in which Alexa assumed they were both imagining a version of the same stock scene. Ben and Ellen in the kitchen of Rokeby Close – in this version it was not flooded – trying to have a cordial conversation, while Alexa played harried diplomat. She linked arms with Ellen, whose face softened slightly.

‘I know you really like him.’ Her voice was rather bloodless.

‘Yes.’ Alexa’s skin prickled. ‘But you’re obviously more important.’

Ellen laughed, mirthlessly. ‘Sure.’ She unlinked her arm.

‘Don’t be like that,’ Alexa said, hurt. ‘You know you are.’

Ellen had the good grace to look a little abashed. ‘Sorry,’ she said, finally.

There was another silence.