‘Hi, guys,’ I say. I reach down to Leo and hug him. ‘And how was Star Wars Millennium thingy?’

‘Aw, Mum. You’re useless. I’m glad I’ve got Jo and Keeley – you know nothing about Star Wars.’

‘Not entirely true. I did have a thing for Luke Skywalker back in the day,’ I say.

‘I don’t think that counts,’ Jo says. ‘You had a thing for just about every male actor if I remember correctly.’ She’s not wrong. I let them walk on into the house ahead of me and look back at Davina’s. The figure disappears from view. Surely if it were Davina, and she saw me looking, she’d have waved?

‘Guys, I’m just popping over to see Davina – I’ll be a couple of minutes, is that okay?’ I shout through the front door. When I hear a yes, I walk across the road and bang loudly on Davina’s door. She answers immediately.

‘Hi,’ I say. ‘You okay? Thought you’d have been across to see me.’

‘Hi, Amber. Yes. All good. I’ve been stuck within these four walls busy with my manuscript …’

‘Oh, I didn’t think you’d been home. No lights have been on.’

‘You keeping tabs on me?’ Any other time, this sentence would be funny. But Davina isn’t saying it in a jokey manner. It’s an accusation.

‘Well, no. Not really, it’s only that I’ve been wanting to catch up with you, so I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to see you.’

She shrugs and looks back over her shoulder. I want to invite myself in because something feels really off, and I’m actually getting a little worried. She’s on edge. Jumpy. Does Wayne frighten her?

‘Jo and Keeley are over at mine for the minute. I can pop in quickly and update you.’ As I say it, I push my way into the hall passageway before she can make an excuse.

She hesitates at the door, looking up the stairs then back at me, and stutters, ‘Er … um … I can spare a few minutes, I guess.’ She follows me into her lounge.

‘What’s going on, Davina?’ I can’t help myself, I have to ask straight out. I can’t pussyfoot around anymore.

‘I – I don’t know what you mean …’

‘You’re acting very oddly, and it’s worrying me. Is there something you want to share with me?’

‘No. Nothing. Why? Have you found something out?’

For the moment, I’m not sure if she’s asking if I’ve found something out about Carl, or whether I’ve found out something about her and Wayne. I decide in this moment to play devil’s advocate. ‘A few people have mentioned they’ve never met Wayne,’ I say, then I pause to gauge her reaction. Her forehead creases.