Melissa poured herself another glass of wine and moved through to the lounge, looking out at the street where the pale autumn sun was sinking behind the buildings opposite. She was thinking more clearly now and suddenly it all fell into place. It was obvious. When Ray wasn’t with her he hadn’t been working away. He had been calling himself Charles and living with Grace and her children. His children.

Things were starting to make sense. That second time Grace turned up, she’d been different. Melissa thought about how much older she had looked, about her own pride at how much better she herself was ageing. Well, that was no surprise if Grace had worked out what her husband had been doing. In fact, the only reason Melissa still looked so fresh-faced was because she was stupid and had been living in ignorant bliss. The idea made her feel sick.

She remembered how quiet Grace had been that day, not a bit like the first time she’d visited. And how she’d reacted when she saw the only photo that Melissa had of her, Ray and Leah all together. Grace must have realised the moment she saw that photo. How stupid she’d been, Melissa thought. All these years her life had been a total fiction and she’d had no idea.

Melissa’s mind was too full of it all, so she let it close down and just sat listening to the sounds from the street outside: children playing and being called in to eat, dogs barking, cars coming and going, the hubbub of ordinary people getting on with their ordinary lives. Two hours ago, that had been her. Now nothing would ever be ordinary again.

By the time Ray arrived, the light outside had faded entirely, and the room was filled with the sodium glow of the street light.

‘Hi,’ Ray shouted as he came in. Melissa heard him take his coat off and hang it on the banister. ‘Missy, are you here?’ he called, confused by the darkness of the house.

Melissa sat where she was, the empty wine bottle on the table in front of her.

‘Oh, there you are!’ said Ray as he came in, and flicked on the overhead light. Melissa flinched as her eyes objected to the sudden glare. ‘What are you doing sitting here in the dark with your coat on?’ Then he spotted the wine bottle and added more urgently, ‘Is everything okay? Is Leah all right?’

‘Leah’s fine,’ replied Melissa, her words slurring together. ‘Who is Charles Montgomery Smith?’

She heard Ray swallow before answering. ‘You know who, Missy darling,’ he said, his smile broad. ‘He’s my half-brother.’

‘Not a twin?’ she asked.

‘No. You know that. What’s this all about? I thought we were having a nice night in, just the two of us, but you seem to have started without me. Shall I go out and get another bottle?’