‘I still can barely believe it though,’ Matilda Finch said bluntly. She didn’t do softly-softly. Matilda loved to be in charge, and would no doubt have lots of suggestions for how she could run the giving tree once Bella announced it. ‘You both always seemed so happy, but then, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.’

Hazel tutted at Matilda’s tactlessness and Bella, ignoring the remark, carried on. ‘I thought we were happy too, but there you go. So, this idea I’ve got—’

‘So there were no signs at all?’ Matilda continued. ‘Nothing you picked up on?’

Bella shook her head. ‘Not that I spotted. Anyway—’

‘What an evil man,’ Hazel said. ‘Mrs Granger mentioned she’d seen him putting some bits into his car and driving off, but she didn’t think you’d split up. Evil boy.’

Matilda nodded along with Hazel’s appraisal.

‘How are you feeling today?’ Nina asked gently.

‘I don’t know really. I’m here and dressed and I’ve brushed my teeth every morning, so I suppose in the grand scheme of things I’m doing all right.’

‘Oral hygiene is very important,’ added old Mr Whittaker with a firm nod.

That wasn’t quite the point she’d been making but Bella carried on regardless. ‘I’m getting on with things at least. So—’

‘I should imagine,’ Matilda started again, ‘that in some ways it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. That’ll happen later I suspect.’

‘Agreed,’ Hazel added. ‘Are you a bit afraid that at any moment it’ll hit you again and you’ll dissolve into tears?’

Bella tightened her hands around her cup. ‘A little, but let’s not talk—’

‘Bella won’t dissolve,’ said Nina. ‘She’s not the dissolving type.’

She tried to think about how lucky she was to have such a huge support network in her life. She had Nina and Johnny at work, her family, and her other friends here who didn’t quite pick up on the subtle I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it hints but were still trying to lift her spirits. She may as well finish the conversation before she told them about the giving tree. She was so excited about the idea and wanted it to have lots of impact when she announced it, which it wouldn’t if all they were thinking about was Evan. ‘I do keep wondering if I should call him again and—’

‘Again?’ Nina and Hazel chorused. Mr Whittaker solemnly shook his head.

‘What? I called him once and left a message. I really want to know what happened to us from his perspective. Why he became so unhappy he went to someone else. Isn’t that a good idea?’

Hazel shook her head. ‘What can he say that isn’t going to make you feel ten times worse? He’ll tell you it wasn’t you and that things just changed for him—’