He was trying to resist the urge to get so drunk he would be incapable of thinking the dark thoughts going around in his head – primarily of ripping Robert Fenton’s cold heart from his chest – when he decided to message Jessie. Talking to someone, about anything, might just save his sanity. Whether it was right or wrong to be talking to her really wasn’t an issue any more, was it, he thought, his gut wrenching afresh as he pictured his wife, and what she might now be doing with another man.

Is this a good time for you? he typed. He hesitated briefly and then hit send.

She didn’t reply immediately, causing his heart to plummet, and then – Can do.

Jason was relieved. At that time of night, he’d wondered whether she would answer. Fancy talking properly on the phone? he asked her.

There was another short pause, then, OK, she sent, but I have a thick Irish brogue. Born in Cork, worked in Donegal for a while. Am told accent sexy but hard to understand. Also, night off so out with the girls. Birthday bash. Teensy bit inebriated, therefore.

I’ll listen carefully, Jason sent back.

Send me your number. I’ll find a quiet spot. Call you in five, Jessie replied.

Jason keyed in his number and went to the conservatory, lest the kids wander down and overhear. He hoped she did call. He couldn’t reveal details or tell her the insane nature of the personal issues he was dealing with, but he needed to be as straight with her as he could. He hoped that, after that, she would want to keep in contact. He had no idea whether it had a future, or even what he wanted from this other than a friend he could talk to outside of the complete disaster that was his life.

Five minutes later, his phone rang. ‘Jason Connolly,’ he answered cautiously.

‘Hey, Jason Connolly,’ a female voice said cheerily. ‘So, what’re you up to, apart from waiting for phone calls from strange women?’ It was her, judging by the light lyrical accent, which was definitely sexy and also definitely had a slight slur to it.

‘Nothing earth-shattering,’ Jason said, wondering what to tell her. The truth, he reminded himself. There could be no future based on lies. He’d learned that only too well. ‘I’ve just been upstairs, checking on my kids.’

‘Ahh,’ Jessie said, a wary edge to her voice. ‘Kids, as in… how many?’

‘Two,’ Jason said, already bracing himself for her to say goodbye. ‘A girl and a boy, aged eleven and ten.’

Jessie took a second. ‘And they live with you?’ she asked, her tone indicating she’d guessed that wasn’t the case.

‘No.’ Jason faltered and then pushed on. ‘That is… I’m still living in the marital home.’

‘Right,’ she said, followed by another short silence. ‘You’re not separated then?’