Each morning, when I come downstairs to make my first coffee of the day, when Toffee yawns, stretches and pads over to greet me, I have to remind myself that Nick is not coming back. Sometimes I find it unbearable, sometimes it feels as though life is moving on. Sometimes I stand in the middle of my kitchen and wonder who I am and what I’m doing here. Sometimes I feel nothing at all.

Work-wise, I’m on a mission to persuade Rupert that instead of buying the Chelsea house with its narrow profit margin, he should invest in property south of the river, aimed at professional families rather than the uber-wealthy. Not to neglect those, of course, but to create another arm to his empire which I would run and from which I would take a share of the profits, rather than a salary. I had the idea driving back from Chelsea after that first viewing. I don’t care what it takes; I’ll work hard. I am determined never to be financially dependent on a man again. Which takes me to this house, my house, in Burnside Road. And to Nick’s parents.

Tim and Cora have backed off, for the time being at least, although the legal situation with Nick’s estate is going to have to be addressed at some point. They will probably win, but at least if we do have to wait seven years, as Harriet Gayle advised could be the case, Lottie will still be able to grow up here. I won’t have to leave until she’s preparing to go to university.

I get a text and slide my phone across the table. It’s Douglas, wanting to know about arrangements. He’s keen to be waiting in the playground when Lottie’s coach arrives. It’s the first time she’s been away from both of us for more than a night. I text back that I’ll meet him at the school. I don’t want us to go together, it sends out the wrong message.

I settle down to work, the radio playing in the background. I’m surfing the internet for suitable properties when a name catches my attention. I dash across the room to turn the sound up, but I’ve missed the section. Frustrated, I go back to my laptop and search for the news. And there it is. Angus Moody, CEO of Financial Logistics, is under arrest following a covert investigation by New Scotland Yard Serious Fraud Office.