I ignore Rav’s choice of words. ‘Just checking on Mina.’

‘We’ve been waiting for you. Dinner’s getting cold.’

‘I’m coming now. Sorry.’ I could have sworn I was only watching the fox for a few minutes before Agnes’s face appeared in front of me. I turn back to the window, but the fox is gone, taking his quarry with him.

Naomi is already sitting at the table when I get back downstairs, a plate of risotto in front of her. She has also topped up Rav’s wine glass and her own while mine stands empty. ‘I didn’t know if …’ She waves her hand towards my glass.

‘Just water for me,’ I say. ‘I’ll need to feed the baby later. I don’t want him to have another bottle.’ I didn’t want him to have one in the first place.

‘Oh, of course.’ Naomi picks up her fork and begins to eat. ‘How are you feeling now, Allie? Is that ankle OK?’

‘Fine.’ I push the food around my plate, not hungry. ‘I was just late this morning, that’s all. I don’t know why either of you have made such a big deal out of it.’ They exchange a glance and irritation begins to make way for real anger. ‘I was up late. Rav, you know I was tired, you’re the one who left me sleeping. Mina was fine.’

‘Yes, I know she was,’ Rav says quietly. ‘We’re … I’m just a little concerned that things are getting a bit much for you, that’s all. It’s tough with a newborn baby and a toddler. And you’re not … I mean, you just don’t seem yourself at the moment.’

‘I only want to help you, Al,’ Naomi butts in. ‘I’m your friend, you should feel able to rely on me.’

I say nothing for a moment, weighing up how to respond. In the end I say, ‘I know. Thank you, but I don’t need any help. I just overslept today. You know I haven’t been sleeping enough’ – I nod towards Rav – ‘and it all caught up with me. I’m fine now, really.’ I return to pushing my food around, forcing in small bites as Rav looks at his own plate, his eyes coming to rest on me at intervals as I turn the conversation to more mundane topics. When Naomi gets up to use the bathroom, Rav gives up any pretence of eating and lays a hand on my arm.

‘Did you have to invite her to stay for dinner?’ His tone is sharp, and I raise an eyebrow.

‘Excuse me?’

‘Don’t think you can wriggle out of talking about this, Al. We need to talk about things, about how you’ve been.’