‘Better not. I’ve got to go back to the shop and make sure Evie kept on top of everything. I told her I would only be gone for an hour or so.’

‘I’ll see you out.’ I follow Naomi along the hallway, and apologize for keeping her so long, for falling asleep.

‘It must be those tablets,’ Naomi says as she rummages in her bag for her shop keys. ‘They do say on the side of the box that they can cause drowsiness. You need to be careful when you take them, Allie.’

‘Oh, I didn’t think … I mean, I wasn’t sure …’ I don’t know how to formulate the words without sounding like I’m going bonkers. In the end I settle for, ‘Yes. Probably the tablets. Sorry, they’ve made me feel a little bit foggy.’

‘Make sure you get some rest.’ Naomi leans forward and kisses me on the cheek, her floral scent wrapping around me. The same scent I am sure was on Rav’s clothes the other night. ‘And you know you can give me a call if you need a rest – if your ankle starts playing up – and I’ll come and look after the kids for you.’

I am already shaking my head. ‘I’ll be fine.’

‘I know you will.’ She winks. ‘I just don’t want you to think you have to be a superhero, that’s all. I’ll text you in the morning, see if you need anything, OK?’

‘OK. Thank you for today.’ I glance behind me, to where the sound of Rav’s whistling comes from the kitchen. ‘Listen, Naomi, you won’t say anything to Rav, will you?’

‘About what?’

‘Well …’ I shift my weight on my aching ankle, looking at the floor. ‘About the noises from the chimney. The bones. Or … how I fell down the stairs. I don’t want him to worry. Maybe I was imagining things, you know, after taking the tablets.’ The tablets I don’t even remember taking, but I don’t mention that. ‘I will tell him about the bones, just … not yet.’

She hesitates for one tiny moment. ‘My lips are sealed.’