They weren’t. That is the most frightening thing. At first, Naomi thought I was just becoming obsessed with Agnes Gowdie, with the cottage and what had happened there over the years. It wasn’t until Tara saw her and mentioned that she thought I might be suffering with postnatal depression that Naomi became really worried. And then when Tara told Naomi outside The Daisy Chain that she almost met my mother, that’s when Naomi began to think that perhaps things were escalating. Now, when I think of Tara, I think of the blue blanket, left entirely by accident on the floor by the baby’s changing station. I’ll have to give it back to her, I think, and I wonder if she will still be my friend after all of this.

‘Allie, please talk to me?’ Naomi’s dark eyes fill with tears and I feel a small pang of guilt.

‘I know you were worried, that you were just trying to do the right thing. I was sick, I didn’t know what I was doing,’ I say eventually. ‘But I’m better now. I’m going home soon.’

‘You are?’

‘Yes. The doctor told me this morning that all being well I can go home next week.’ I glance down at my hand, at the brand-new ring on my finger, given to me by Rav last night. A single pearl inlaid in gold. An eternity ring made with the pearl I found on the bathroom floor all those months ago. An eternity ring to celebrate the babies, to celebrate us and what is ahead of us. I hadn’t wanted to wear it at first, scared that the stone against my skin would evoke all those feelings from before, but Rav had looked so sad, and so desperate that I had let him slide it onto my finger. And I felt nothing. It was just a ring. Whatever it was that had made me feel that way was gone. The receipt I found in the suitcase was for the ring, not for the necklace that hung around Naomi’s neck. I see the glint of gold as she shifts on the bed, reaching across the stark, white duvet. She’s still wearing it.

‘That’s brilliant news.’ She smiles, and I feel the pressure of her hand on mine. ‘I’m so pleased. I’m, errr, I wanted to let you know that I’m not going to be around much when you come home.’

‘Oh …’ I look down at our joined hands, not sure why I feel such a rush of relief. Naomi had nothing to do with any of this, I shouldn’t be feeling relieved that she won’t be around.

‘My mum is sick. I’m going to go home and take care of her for a while.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Rav never said.’