‘You deserve it,’ Rupert says, taking my hands in his. ‘Listen, I know things have been tough for you, it’s not been an easy few months, has it? I know that it’s difficult to step into someone else’s shoes.’

I shake my head, blinking rapidly. He’s right, it hasn’t been easy at all. In fact, it’s been a hundred times harder than I ever imagined it would be. Maybe he was paying attention to me when I said things weren’t right after all.

‘I can see that you’re exhausted – let’s go to the cottage, have an amazing weekend, just the two of us, and then I’ll get my Emily back… the Emily I know and love. A fresh start for both of us.’ He gets up and pulls me to my feet, wrapping his arms around me. The Emily I know and love. I let myself smile into his shoulder.

Later that afternoon, I mull things over. By booking the cottage, Rupert clearly wants to make amends for all the arguments we’ve had recently. I let my gaze fall on our wedding photo, the two of us smiling at each other as if no one else existed. I love Rupert, and I love my life with him. He’s made mistakes when it comes to telling me about Caro, I can see that, but how would I react if my loved one had died? Wouldn’t I find it hard to talk about things?

Reading over the booking again, I smile to myself. We’ve had a stressful few months since the wedding, and Rupert is clearly making an effort. Maybe I should too. Sadie’s words ring my ears. I’d get the plans drawn up anyway. A spark of excitement lights in my belly. I should do it, as a surprise. And then Rupert will be thrilled, just like Sadie said, and he’ll know that I care about him, that I’m committed to the relationship and to making him happy.

I run upstairs into the spare room that Rupert uses as an office, riffling through the filing cabinet until I find the folder marked ‘Orangery’. Holding my breath, worried in case the plans aren’t there for whatever reason, I slide out the paperwork, shuffling through until I find it.

‘Bingo.’ I unroll the plans and see the garden area marked out. It could work. We could put in a small pool close to the house, with a cute little cabin alongside for a changing room. We would still have room for the borders and shrubs, and even a barbecue area. I could sell it to Rupert that it’ll save us money on holidays in the long run, as we won’t need to go away, and anyway, like Sadie said, he’ll be happy once I take the initiative and show him how lovely it could be.