Saturday arrived, and I found I was so strangely nervous. I kept getting that lurch in my stomach like when you have to do something part of you is dreading. I didn’t know why. I thought about Nora’s loss again, my own illicit grief pressing hard against the walls in my chest. A glass of wine would have helped, but that was a no-go. Nick was already cross at me for getting locked out yet again, the third time since we’d moved here. I couldn’t seem to remember the code, or maybe I’d hit the wrong keys with my cold, pregnant fingers.

As Saturday wore on, we were both weirdly jumpy. We had even dressed up, pathetically, me in a black maternity dress and tights, Nick in a navy shirt and trousers I hadn’t seen before. They fitted him well, and I noticed in an abstract way that he had lost weight, gained muscle. All those gym trips, keeping him out even longer, while I stewed at home, getting fatter by the day.

When we first moved we’d had a few people down to stay, and it was only then I’d realised how isolated we were, not a house or shop for miles about, only the empty cottages and fields in every direction. Claudia had said she couldn’t sleep, it was so quiet – I’d found her reading the paper in the kitchen at 5 a.m. ‘I’m sorry you had a bad night,’ I said, a little defensive.

‘It’s OK, love,’ she’d said. ‘Some of us just aren’t made for the country. I miss the traffic and the choking fumes!’

But I didn’t think I was made for it either.

As seven drew near, I found Nick and I were snapping at each other, as if we were going to be inspected.

‘Did you put out clean—?’

‘Of course, I’m not stupid.’

He jumped up suddenly. ‘What if she has allergies? I mean, so many people don’t eat wheat or dairy now . . .’

‘She said she ate everything.’ We almost couldn’t look at each other. As if our whole life were suddenly going to be put under scrutiny.

We were so quiet we heard her footsteps on the driveway, bang on time at seven. Nick rushed forward – I put up my hand to stop him. It’s just weird if you think people have been sitting there in silence waiting for you. I went to the door myself, holding my bump self-consciously under one hand. I put on a smile to open the door to her. ‘Nora! So pleased you could make it.’

She entered, wiping her walking boots on the mat. I wondered why she’d worn them for the short journey over, and I saw they were dirty, as if she’d gone scrambling about the fields first. She didn’t say anything for a moment, just looked round the hallway.