‘Why don’t you start from the beginning,’ Tim says.

The thought of going through it again makes me well up. I’ve held it together since Sunday for Lottie’s sake – I even managed not to cry in front of my friends – but I’m struggling now.

Tim gets up and pulls me into his arms, which makes it worse because, like his son, he possesses broad shoulders that are designed for crying on. His sweater muffles my sobs. Then Cora’s voice breaks through Tim’s murmurs of sympathy.

‘Pull yourself together, Grace. Your hysterics aren’t going to help Nick.’

Tim’s arms loosen, and I turn, wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

‘Right,’ Cora says. ‘What happened?’

I splash cold water on to my face and dab it dry with a clean tea towel. ‘I don’t know. I’ve gone over and over it in my head, but it doesn’t make sense. We spent a lovely day together. Then in the evening he said he wanted to go for a walk. He didn’t come back.’

‘It’s a little odd to go out for a walk without the dog, don’t you think? And why didn’t you go with him?’

‘I had just run a bath. And I honestly don’t know why he left Toffee behind. It did seem strange at the time.’

‘It implies that he knew he wouldn’t be coming back, doesn’t it?’ Cora says.

I sigh heavily. ‘I already feel bad enough, Cora.’

‘I’m sure it’s nothing you’ve done,’ Tim soothes me. I feel the glance he throws at his wife. ‘We want to help. People don’t walk out on their families for no reason.’

‘He hasn’t walked out on me.’

‘Well, that’s what he appears to have done, isn’t it?’ Cora says. ‘He’s left the house and not come back, not left a note, not called you or sent a message. We need to examine why that might be. If you’ve quarrelled, you’d better tell us.’

‘We haven’t quarrelled.’

‘Maybe he’s under pressure, financially, I mean, and hasn’t been able to tell you.’

I shake my head. ‘I know all about our finances. Nick doesn’t keep any secrets from me. Any pressure is shared.’

She snatches at that. ‘So, there has been pressure?’ She looks around. ‘There must be a problem if you can’t afford help.’

‘Cora,’ I say, riled. ‘This is my house and I like it the way it is.’