‘Much good it did me.’ I hit the wall with the side of my fist, choking on a sob. ‘You should be ashamed of yourself.’

Tim’s phone beeps. He pulls it out of his back pocket, reads a text, and his eyes shutter. I take the opportunity to escape, running up to my bathroom to rub at my cheeks and eyes with cotton-wool balls soaked in make-up remover. I stare at my blotched face. What the hell was I expecting?

He’s coming up, as I come down. He’s in his coat; a Barbour. Another expensive purchase.

‘I’m going to the pub,’ he says.

‘Right.’

We look at each other, then we both speak at once.

‘Tim …’

‘Do you want to come?’

His expression tells me he’s only asking out of courtesy. I could go. That would throw him. We could sit in the Queen’s Arms and discuss the past. I pretend to think about it – for long enough for worry to start rucking his brow. Finally, I let him off the hook.

‘I’m tired. You’ll be OK on your own?’ Of course he will.

‘Toffee and I will keep each other company.’

‘I thought dogs weren’t allowed in there.’

‘He’s invisible to this particular landlady.’ Tim winks.

‘You’re quite a hit round here, aren’t you?’ I say.

He catches my tone, tilts his head and looks at me. There’s a nervous energy about him that turns the charm into something else, something with a fizz of threat. ‘Grace …’

‘Got your key? I’m going to have an early night.’

He nods, chucking it up in the air and catching it. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

While I wait for my bath to run, I go on to In-Step and my group. There are only two people on the move, which is normal, because most of us are home right now, except Nick, of course, who isn’t moving for other reasons. I should take him off, but I can’t bear to. No, the two who are moving are Anna and Tim. I feel a quiver in my belly. How long ago was it that I sat watching Nick’s and Anna’s steps? I test the water, turn off the cold tap and look again. They’re still moving. Tim is walking Toffee and then going to the pub; Anna, frankly, could be anywhere. I try not to look but I can’t help it. It feels like my life is on repeat. Tim stops. Anna keeps moving. So it’s nothing.