Then Melissa remembered that she wasn’t meant to let her into the house. Ray had been adamant about that. This woman was married to the man who had refused to pay for life-saving drugs for Ray’s dad, and for that she was never to be forgiven. The subject had never come up again in the intervening years, but Melissa could still remember how vehement Ray’s reaction had been as he related the story. Melissa also recalled how it hadn’t seemed entirely fair to taint the woman with the actions of her man, especially when she was far too nice to have played any part in what he’d done.

So, Melissa thought, she wasn’t supposed to let the woman into the house, but as she was currently in the front garden she wouldn’t be disobeying Ray. Also, Leah was at school, and if she didn’t tell her daddy about their visitor how would he ever know? Melissa saw the net curtains at number 7 flicker at the arrival of someone new. She gave the neighbour a little wave, just to show she knew she was there, and then turned her attention back to the woman.

She was beautifully dressed in a cream trouser suit with a navy-blue scarf at her neck, and was carrying a handbag that Melissa had seen in a magazine. The passing years hadn’t been kind to her, though. Melissa thought she looked a lot more than five years older. Her hair, pulled back into a flyaway chignon, was more grey than brown now, and Melissa was proud that her own face had far fewer wrinkles than her visitor’s, even though they must have been a similar age. Melissa had to admit to carrying a little bit more weight, though.

‘Hello, Melissa,’ said the woman. ‘Do you remember me?’ She gave Melissa a little half-smile as if she wasn’t feeling entirely sure of herself.

‘Yes. It’s Grace, isn’t it?’ Melissa said, the name flying back into her mind the second she needed it. ‘You’re the one married to Ray’s brother.’

Melissa had to speak to her. It would be rude not to, especially when she’d come all this way and was standing right outside her house. And anyway, what harm could come from being civil? After all, whatever the problem was, it was between Ray and Charles, not the two of them.

‘It’s been a long time,’ Melissa added, making an effort not to sound accusatory because there had been no obligation on either side.

The woman nodded. ‘About five years, I think,’ she said ruefully. ‘I’m not quite sure where the time went. Anyway, I was passing and, well . . .’ She shrugged, letting the rest of her unlikely explanation hang in the air. Melissa thought it was highly doubtful that she had been passing. There was nowhere to pass to unless you fancied a swim.