‘Grace! Fabulous house. Must be worth a couple of million. Who inherits?’

‘Did Nick do something to Izzy Wells? Is that why he topped himself?’

‘What’s your relationship with Grace, mate?’

Douglas moves past me and I fling the door shut. Silence descends like a fisherman’s net, trapping us together.

‘What’re you doing here?’ I say. ‘You can’t just turn up without warning me first.’

‘If you don’t answer your phone, what do you expect? I’ve had the police asking me all sorts of questions. If I get dragged into your mess, I’ve a right to know what’s going on.’

‘Well, I’m sorry. I’m still getting used to this. They were bound to talk to you; they’ll be talking to all my friends, I expect.’

I stand between him and the kitchen door and don’t invite him further into the house. The light is dim, and I hope he can’t tell how much I’m shaking.

He sighs. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘Lottie’s at Hannah’s. Tim and Cora have gone home. I think they need time alone to process this as well.’

He makes a face. ‘Really? For good, I hope.’

‘I don’t think so.’ His face blurs and I turn away, fighting a wave of emotion.

‘Grace.’ His voice is soft. ‘It’s going to be OK.’

‘What am I going to tell Lottie?’ I burst out. ‘If his body had been found, it would be easier. At least she could say goodbye. But this way she’s always going to hope. I’m always going to hope.’

‘They still might find him. It’s early days. But we need to tell her the truth, because she’ll read about it. We can’t stop that happening. We’ll tell her together.’

I push my fingers through my hair and swear under my breath. ‘I think I’m going mad.’

‘It’s natural to feel that way. This would be a difficult and confusing time for anyone, let alone someone …’

He stops, but I’m easily able to fill the gap. ‘Someone like me.’

‘You’ve come a long way from that girl,’ he says. ‘A very long way. Look at you. Look at what you’ve achieved, what you have.’

He’s right. I have solid walls around me and a roof over my head. I have a community and friends who think I’m ordinary; just another mum like them. But all this stuff, all these material belongings, they’ll vanish along with Nick. Because without him, I am nothing. I fold my arms and take a deep breath.

‘Stuff’s going to come out about me, Douglas. About us. Things I really don’t want people to know. I don’t think I’ll be able to cope if the papers get hold of my history.’