The night sky is clear and dotted with stars as we drive along the lane that leads to the house, the glow of the single streetlamp across the street making things feel sinister rather than comforting, and I find myself anxiously scanning the darkened windows for signs of movement as we pull up. Sadie marches inside and goes straight to the fridge to open a bottle of wine, as if she owns the place, leaving me to slide reluctantly out of the warm, luxurious car, smiling at the driver, before I walk across the gravelled drive to the front door. My steps are heavy, my feet reluctant to move towards the house. There is a tiny tug of fear as I step inside, a knot of worry that picks at my insides as I wonder whether I’m walking into yet another surprise – another photo of Caro, the faint scent of her perfume staining the air in my bedroom. Stepping into the kitchen where Sadie is pouring two huge glasses of Sancerre, I let out a long breath in relief at everything seemingly undisturbed.

‘Here. You look like you could do with this.’ Sadie hands me a glass and I take a healthy swig. ‘It’s not just the shopping that’s got you looking so washed out, is it? You really are worried about things?’

‘Yeah,’ I admit, nodding slowly, ‘yes, I am worried. A bit. But maybe it just feels worse because I’m tired.’

I do feel better after talking to Sadie today, and standing in the kitchen, the bright lights overhead adding to the warmth of the centrally heated room, I think that maybe I have let things become bigger in my own mind than they really are.

‘Darling, perhaps you should consider calling the police,’ Sadie says, but she is frowning as if even though she has suggested it, she doesn’t really think it’s a good idea.

‘Do you think?’

‘Well… you could, if you were really worried. But in all honesty, darling, I don’t think they’ll do very much.’ Sadie gives a shrug. ‘When Will and Amanda had all those problems with the gypsies that moved in at the bottom of their garden, the police didn’t want anything to do with it.’

I don’t know anything about that, but I do know that Will and Amanda’s house backs onto a country park, so I’m pretty sure Sadie is exaggerating things when she says ‘back garden’.

‘And anyway,’ Sadie goes on, ‘you two are rock solid – it doesn’t matter what anyone says or does – you two are happy, even if you are feeling a bit strained at the moment.’

‘Hmmm.’ I sip at my wine, pretty sure that Sadie only hears what she wants to hear.