I need to write down some things I want to say; things I want to ask him so I don’t forget anything. Also, so I can plan how to word it, because if I leave it until later, I’ll come out with all sorts of nonsense and end up making him uncomfortable. He’ll clam up and not talk about Tim if I don’t approach this well.

Armed with a notebook – which might look as though I’m somehow interrogating him; interviewing him and using what he says as evidence – I go up the lift to the third floor.

‘Come on in,’ Nick says as he answers the door to flat 8. I catch a waft of vanilla as I walk into the tiny entrance hall where his coat is hung on a single metal hook on my right. I squeeze past it to follow him into the lounge. Which is also the dining room and kitchen. There’s a door going off to the left, presumably to the one and only bedroom. The boys had said that when they visit, they sleep in the double bed together and Nick has the pull-out sofa.

A short, sharp stab of sadness hits me. I try to remember this is temporary; he’ll be able to get somewhere better once the house is sold. It’s not sad. It’s this way because of the choices he made.

‘Coffee?’ he asks.

I nod. For the moment, I can’t trust myself to speak. I position myself at one end of the red sofa bed and watch Nick as he boils the kettle.

‘Thanks for coming over,’ he says.

‘Sure,’ I say, looking around at the boxes lined up against the far wall. Which I helped him pack. Nick brings two mugs and sets them on a small, square, black MDF table. ‘Oh, er … coasters?’ I scan the area.

‘Funny one,’ he says.

I give him a quizzical glance.

‘You can see the shitty table, right? You think I’m bothered about a few hot cup rings or coffee stains?’

My face glows; I can feel the heat spreading. ‘Sorry,’ I mutter, placing my mug down.

‘I’m not trying to make you feel bad or sorry for me. I know I deserve this.’

‘Let’s not,’ I say.

‘Fine,’ he says, sitting down next to me. It’s a bit too cosy on the small sofa, but there’s nowhere else. ‘Right, then let me get to the point of why I’ve asked you here.’

‘Oookay …’ I’m a little concerned at his tone of voice.

‘Before, when we spoke, you mentioned your Plan B and you also dropped in that you thought we should at least consider selling to the developers.’

‘Yes, go on.’