‘I know that,’ she tells Mark. ‘I still need to be there for Sienna, though. She needs to know why Greg was killed… and so do I.’

‘You can’t think that it’s got anything to do with what he told you? It sounds like it was a random attack.’

She’s too tired to have this debate; it’s been circling her head for too long already and she no longer knows what she believes. None of it seems real. ‘Rob’s put the house on the market,’ she says.

This brings a smile to Mark’s face. ‘Really? Well, that’s good. Are you okay about it?’

‘It’s all happening so quickly. I suppose it’s a good thing, though. We can’t put it off forever.’ She lets out a deep breath. ‘It means I’ll have to start looking for a new house. Or flat rather. I doubt there’s any house in London that I can afford on my own.’

Mark smiles. ‘You don’t have to. Why don’t we move in together? I need somewhere to live too, so it makes sense, doesn’t it? We don’t even have to stay in London. We can go back to Ipswich. Or anywhere else.’

There’s no hesitation when Abby answers. ‘No. I can’t do that. Not yet.’ She sees the disappointment on his face. ‘I love you, Mark – I always have – but I can’t jump straight into anything. My life’s already changed beyond recognition, and I just need time to get used to things.’

‘Okay.’

‘It doesn’t mean I still want to be with Rob – I hope you know that. I have no regrets.’

He nods. ‘Do you know what’s strange? As much as I never stopped thinking about you or wanting you – I was never jealous of Rob. Even when you got married.’

‘After you already were yourself,’ she reminds him.

‘Point taken. What I’m trying to say is that I knew you didn’t love him, and I know your chemistry was nothing like ours, so I never felt threatened by him.’

She’s not sure where he’s going with this.

‘But when you told me about that night you swapped husbands with your friend… well, I have to admit, it’s been bothering me. Playing on my mind.’

‘You know nothing happened. It was never about sex or attraction of any kind. And look how it ended!’

‘I know, but at the time—’

The waiter appears and places their plates on the table. ‘Is there anything else I can get you?’

‘No, thank you,’ Mark says. ‘This is great, thanks.’

Abby waits for the waiter to walk away. ‘What were you saying?’

He frowns. ‘Nothing.’

‘You were about to say something before the waiter came.’