The sleeves of Faith’s silk dressing gown slid down her arm as she stowed away the crystal glasses from her little dinner party. She had drunk far too much and had no recollection of who had cleared away the plates; it was just a shame she had to unload the dishwasher herself. She wasn’t expecting Nick to help. He had arrived home at an ungodly hour and was snoring softly when she rolled out of bed.

Faith had hoped Nick would be more domesticated, but despite his prowess in the kitchen, he was oblivious to the mess he created. He was as bad as Derek and their similarities kept Faith smiling as she finished her chores and made a strong coffee to wash down some painkillers. Her head throbbed, but in all other respects she felt good. She hadn’t been able to allay all of April and Tara’s fears, but she had made a start. Nick was a good thing in her life, they would come to see that.

The second cup of coffee was for Nick and she placed it on the bedside table before sitting on the edge of the bed to watch him sleep. She imagined how the dark stubble on his chin would rasp against her cheek if she leant over and kissed him, but before she could give in to the urge, dimples appeared in his cheeks.

‘I’m not sure if this is a weird or nice way to be woken up,’ he said, opening an eye.

She leant over and kissed him. ‘I’d say weirdly nice.’

He pushed back her hair so he could see her face. ‘I would too.’

‘I love you,’ she whispered, feeling a warmth flood her body as Nick grabbed a handful of her hair to pull her closer. He kissed her hard and the stubble against her soft skin hurt.

When the doorbell rang, Nick wasn’t ready to release Faith, but she wriggled from his grasp. ‘If I don’t answer it now, she’ll probably camp outside until I do,’ she said.

‘You’re expecting someone?’

Faith stood up and stretched her spine. ‘In a fashion,’ she said. She was only surprised it had taken Ella this long to investigate why a BMW had been parking overnight on her drive. ‘It’ll be my stepdaughter. Stay up here and keep quiet.’

‘I’m going to have to meet her at some point, or are you ashamed of me?’

‘Oh, I can’t wait to tell her about you,’ Faith said, ‘but it’s a sensitive issue. I need to do this on my own.’

The doorbell chimed again as Faith checked herself in the dressing-table mirror. She carefully applied her lipstick and tamed her hair before closing the bedroom door and padding barefoot down the stairs. She opened the front door to find Ella clad in Lycra and stretching out her leg muscles.

‘Have you been for a run?’ asked Faith.