Eventually, the doorbell roused him from his stupor and he swung his legs round to sit on the edge of his bed. The door was opened, and Jack heard Ben’s voice and the cheerful clinking sound of bottles. A little cautious, Jack tiptoed into the hall, and bumped into Ellen exiting the bathroom.

‘Oh, hi, Jack.’ Her hands were wet and she was wiping them on her jeans. ‘Coming to the garden? Sounds like Ben’s just arrived, and Lex said he was bringing loads of wanky beers from some shop in Peckham.’

Jack knew that shop: it would be Phil’s. Johnny often went there with Annie to get craft beers and ales and talk to the owner – a man with a long beard and a pronounced paunch – about hops.

‘Phil’s!’ Jack said.

‘Probably.’ Ellen sounded disinterested.

Jack followed her downstairs. From the kitchen he could hear Ben and Alexa chattering. He felt a little shy. Last time he’d seen Ben, he’d been rather drunk by the end. He hoped that he hadn’t said or done anything embarrassing. ‘Hi,’ he said, standing in the door frame. He raised a palm and did a diffident wave.

Ben was putting bottles in the fridge, while Alexa perused the newspaper, arms stretched wide. Ellen had walked to the table to sift through the discarded supplements. The back door to the garden was open, and in the distance Jack could hear a lawnmower revving.

‘Jack!’ Ben offered a sort of mix between a high five and an arm wrestle, which Jack thought he’d just about pulled off. ‘How you doing?’

‘Good.’ Jack was so reassured by Ben’s reception that it took him a second to notice the kitchen was no longer ruined.

‘Nice to be back, eh?’

‘Definitely.’ Still awed, Jack attempted to appear relaxed by crossing his arms.

‘I was just saying we could do with some snacks.’ Alexa was squinting at something on the page in front of her.

Jack saw his opportunity. ‘I’ll get them,’ he offered. ‘I’ll pop to the shop at the end of the road.’

Ellen dropped the magazine she was holding. ‘I’ll come.’ She patted her jeans pocket. ‘Let me just get my card.’ She sprang out of the kitchen in the direction of her bedroom.

Jack followed her towards the front door.

‘Thanks, guys,’ Alexa called out to their retreating backs. ‘Just some crisps and things.’

Ellen appeared as Jack had finished lacing his trainers. She stepped out of the front door and he made a hasty pursuit. Ellen slammed the door behind them, and trotted down the path. Her phone was poking out of her back pocket.

‘We should get something for the guy across the road.’ Ellen pointed at the neighbour’s house.

‘Yeah, definitely.’