She reversed into a gap outside number 11 and then checked her make-up in the rear-view mirror. Something caught her eye and she refocused to look at the scene in the street behind her. The man outside number 5 had got out of his car and was just examining it, checking each door was locked in turn as if he were worried that it might come to some harm parked here. She couldn’t see his face but the shape of him was familiar – something about his outline, the way he held his head, the set of his shoulders. For one confused moment, Grace thought it was Charles, but then she realised that of course, this must be Ray. He looked very smart for an ex-convict, she thought, and then reprimanded herself for making generalisations. Wasn’t he in security or something? That was what Melissa had told her and it would explain the smart clothes. It was lovely to see that he appeared to be doing well. Who knew what kind of a boost having a house had given him? Enough to kick for the surface, at least. The kind of warm glow that you get from being kind to others burned in Grace’s heart on Charles’s behalf.

But now she faced a dilemma. She hadn’t expected Ray to be here. Her plan had just been to strengthen her friendship with Melissa and it was definitely too soon to start working on the men. So, what should she do? Maybe she’d just turn around and go home, come back another day? But she had come all this way. It seemed silly to leave without even saying hello. And there was no need for her to go in. She could just knock on the door, introduce herself to Ray and then go. Where was the harm in that?

Grace picked up the packet of biscuits and slipped them into her bag, then hesitated. Rather than getting out of the car, she stayed where she was to watch how things played out. The man, Ray, was standing on the doorstep of number 5, searching in his pocket for something – his keys, no doubt, thought Grace.

She sat still, watching. She didn’t want to fluster him by having to introduce herself in the street. Melissa might not even have mentioned her yet and so it could be really awkward. Better to wait until he was inside and then Melissa could do the introductions for her.

Ray found his key and was just about to slip it into the lock when a siren sounded on the road behind her. He turned his head to see what was happening and for the first time Grace saw his face.