‘Oh God. Thank you. Thank you so much. I’ll come straight over.’

‘You’re shaking. Sit down and I’ll make you a cup of tea. Don’t be cross with Lottie.’

The remark jars. It’s none of her business, and I haven’t settled within myself how to react. Obviously, I don’t want to overdo it, but neither do I want to pretend it didn’t happen, that I wasn’t frightened. Lottie knows the effect it would have had on me, or she wouldn’t have come here. It’s the last place I’d have looked. That was an act designed to cause maximum distress, without being overtly bad. Shades of her father, I think with a wry grimace.

Anna leans against the kitchen counter and studies my face.

‘She’s never done anything like this before,’ I say. ‘I didn’t know she and Kai were such good friends.’

‘Nor did I. Young love, do you think?’

I smile reluctantly. ‘Maybe.’

‘I’m sorry you were worried.’ She hesitates, her eyes on my face. ‘You do know this is about her father, don’t you?’

‘She’s naturally worried about him.’

‘No, I meant her real dad. Listen, Grace, do you think you should be spending so much time with him? From what she’s told me, it’s confusing her that you get on so well.’

I raise my eyebrows. She hasn’t seen us fight. ‘We get on well because we make the effort, for her sake.’

‘I know. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. She loves him and she obviously adored Nick, and this is a huge blow to her. Massive. She might not show it because she’s anxious about worrying you, but I think she’s struggling.’

‘Adores.’

She frowns. ‘What?’

‘You said adored. Please don’t refer to Nick in the past tense.’

‘I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean it.’

‘And I can’t avoid Douglas,’ I say tartly. ‘I’d better get Lottie and go. But thank you anyway.’

‘Wait.’ She sighs. ‘I’ve been on my own on and off for five years, so I know what it’s like and I know how tempting old loves can be when you’re at rock bottom, but going backwards never works.’

I look at her with horror. ‘I don’t know where you’re getting this, but it’s rubbish. I’m not going to get sucked back into a relationship with Douglas.’

She narrows her eyes. ‘You do mention his name a lot.’

Do I? I hadn’t realized.

When I don’t reply, she says, ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but from what Lottie’s told me, it sounds like you’re making a play for him.’

‘When did she tell you that?’

‘Oh, don’t worry, we haven’t sat down and had an in-depth conversation. It’s just from remarks she’s made.’