My mouth goes dry and I find I can’t swallow, the weight of the gift like a stone in my hand. I picture Mags as I saw her last, in the street, bending to pick up my things as they rolled into the gutter. ‘It was that easy?’

‘Yep.’ Mags fumbles in her pocket and pulls out a battered hand-rolled cigarette, lighting up on the front porch and blowing a stream of cigarette smoke in my direction. I flap a hand irritably.

‘Mags, you haven’t heard from Harry, have you? You haven’t told him anything about where I live?’ I can hear the panicky undertone in my voice, and I can’t help peering past Mags into the darkness, sure I can see a shadowy figure lurking under the streetlight. ‘You saw him in the pub, and I thought… maybe you might have seen him again?’

‘No.’ Mags is insulted, her nose turning up at the thought of it. ‘I might be a lot of things, Em, but you might want to remember that I was – am – your friend. I know what he did to you, remember? I saw the bruises he left on you; I saw how terrified you were when you first moved into the flat. I thought I was doing you a favour, coming here, but clearly you don’t need me now you have Rupert…’ She spits out his name like it tastes of dog shit.

There is a sharp tug of annoyance in my chest and I open my mouth to defend Rupert, but before I can speak, I realize that there is a shadowy figure coming up the driveway, and my heart starts to beat double time in my chest. ‘Mags…’

‘Hello there.’ A hearty voice booms out, and I slump against the doorframe in relief, as Rupert appears next to Mags out of the shadowy gloom. ‘Em? Who’s this?’

‘Rupert, darling.’ I try to keep my breathing under control, not wanting Rupert to know how much he alarmed me. ‘This is Mags. You remember, my old flatmate. Mags is just leaving.’

Rupert turns to look Mags up and down a little, and I want nothing more than for her to leave without another word. I don’t want her to bring me mail, I don’t want her to stand on my doorstep and speak about Rupert in that tone. ‘Oh, of course.’ Rupert reaches down to pet Tiny, who gives a low growl and backs away. ‘Oh dear, someone clearly doesn’t like me.’ Rupert lets out a laugh that I am ninety per cent sure is fake, as Mags and I look at each other over the top of his head. ‘Nice to meet you, Mags. Come on inside, Em, it’s freezing out here.’ With a charming smile, Rupert whisks me back inside and closes the door before Mags can say another word.