Finley and Leo abandon their bikes, leaving them lying on the grass verge to the side of the houses, and run over to us.

‘Hey, lads,’ Richard says, bending down to their level. ‘I picked these up for you.’ He reaches into the bag he has with him and holds up two identical toys.

‘Wow!’ Finley shouts as he takes one from Richard. ‘Cool. Can we play with them now, Mum?’

Leo’s eyes are ablaze with excitement as he hands me his toy too. Nerf Pocket Howlers. This will upset the neighbours. ‘I’ll open them for you now, but you can only throw them in the back garden, okay?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, have I done the wrong thing?’ Richard’s face is showing concern.

‘No, not at all,’ I say, smiling. ‘They’re exactly the sort of things they love. I just don’t want them throwing them in the road.’

‘Good job you have a nice big back garden, then, eh?’

With the boys happily playing, we snuggle on the sofa and just take time to chat. I fill Richard in on the recent events, leaving a few details out, but I give him enough to make him realise the house doesn’t look like it’ll sell any time soon. He’s obviously disappointed and says as much. But equally, things are slow his end. He explains the situation between him and Leila – it’s the most he’s spoken about her. I find I’m weirdly uncomfortable. Jealous, even, when he talks about her. Does he feel that way when I go on about Nick? I make a mental note to stop bringing him into conversations so much.

‘So, what was your alternative plan if the houses don’t sell?’ I say.

‘Ah. Well …’ He shifts position on the sofa so he’s facing me. ‘I have a mate who lives in Eastbourne – a ninety-minute drive or so from me – and he’s off to Australia for a year’s sabbatical.’

‘Riiight,’ I say. I’m not sure I’m going to like this Plan B.

‘So, his house – it’s a mid-terraced two-bedroom place, so a bit smaller than this one – is going to be empty. He’s more than happy for you and the boys to look after it for the year. For free, Amber. It’s a no-brainer and it’ll mean we’re closer and can see much more of each other … and, more importantly, it gets you out of this house sooner.’

The way he says it strikes me as odd, although I know I have just been telling him about some of the strange goings-on here lately. But he’s obviously been thinking about this, and not merely as a result of my recent concerns. He must’ve been discussing it with this mate of his for a while.