Kate bites her lip, wondering where to start, how to explain. ‘There’s something else,’ she says, wiping away a tear, trying to keep it together. ‘Rob and I, we had a talk last weekend, about our worst fears. I was worried I might not be able to paint again, after the accident. And Rob, he said he’s scared of meeting his double. You know, his doppelgänger.’

‘His evil twin?’ Bex says. Kate can hear the amusement in her voice.

‘It’s meant to be a bad omen,’ Kate continues. ‘He met his once, a long time ago, but he’s worried about seeing him again. That he’ll take over his life. When I saw Rob off just now, I thought it was his double. Seriously. I know it sounds crazy, but it was fucking terrifying, Bex.’

‘OK,’ Bex says quietly, clearly surprised by Kate’s sudden outburst. She doesn’t often swear. ‘Maybe seeing Rob with this woman triggered something,’ she says. ‘Hardly surprising, all things considered.’

Bex has helped Kate through some tough times in recent years. She never thought much of Jake, or the leaky narrowboat he and Kate lived on together in Wiltshire, and she’s been a big supporter of Kate’s new life with Rob. Thinks it’s time Kate got a break. And a twenty-nine-year-old tech toyboy fits the bill perfectly. Go for the money, girl.

‘Why don’t you call Rob now, make yourself feel better,’ Bex suggests.

‘I don’t want to worry him about it,’ Kate says. ‘And, you know…’ She pauses. ‘It might not be him I’m talking to.’

Oh God, she’s sounding like a mad person. She pictures Bex pulling a face.

‘I just want you to tell me what you think, when you see him,’ she adds. ‘Reassure me that Rob hasn’t been replaced by someone else. That I haven’t just spent the night with a complete stranger.’

‘What time does his train get into Paddington?’ Bex asks.

Kate closes her eyes with relief.

‘Four hours from now.’

She loves Bex for being prepared to do this for her. She knew she’d be heading up to town today. She always goes to London on a Saturday to do the galleries. They used to travel together. But it’s still a big ask.

‘I could take a later train up to Paddington,’ Bex says. ‘To coincide with his. But you need to stop all this doppelgänger talk. I’m doing this to put your mind at rest. And if Rob’s having an affair, I’ll rip his balls off. Obviously. For you.’

Kate has to smile. Bex can be salty like that. ‘Thanks, Bex. Really. Just make sure it looks like a coincidence, though. You being there.’

‘I’ll see what I can do. As it’s you. And because I know you’ll pay me back big time. Maybe a trip on his fancy yacht or something.’