Glancing down the path, I saw what looked like a crumpled black refuse sack on the ground, heaped in front of the summer house. As I approached, I realised with horror that it was Corvus. His head lolled to one side, the black beak slightly ajar. It looked as if his neck had been broken. My insides reeled and I let out a shriek of horror. It felt like a warning; an ill omen. I couldn’t bring myself to touch the bird and rushed back to my own house, leaving the lifeless body for Jack to dispose of.

I was only glad that Mrs Barley hadn’t been there to see him.

I wondered how the poor creature had come to meet such an unpleasant end.

*

Two days later, I paid a visit to the corner shop. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning and Jack had taken the whole day off, which he rarely did. I thought we might have a nice lunch, and fancied some of Judy’s lovely olive bread and tasty nibbles from the deli counter. Leaving Jack to watch Elodie, I crossed the street, only to hear someone calling my name. I turned to see Lucy pushing a pram, Alfie trotting at her side. I hadn’t seen her for weeks. She made her way over and I was pleased to see that she looked much better; less tired, and she’d gained a little weight.

‘It’s been ages! How are you?’

I smiled and patted the beaming Alfie’s chubby cheek. ‘We’re all fine, thanks. How are things with you?’

‘Oh, so much better now that I’m with Mum. She works part time, but on her days off she takes over with Georgie at night and I can actually get some sleep. Sorry I haven’t been round. I’m not going to lie – I was quite down for a good while, but I’m starting to feel a bit better. I’m well rid of the arsehole.’ She inclined her head in the direction of the cottage she had shared with Eddie. ‘He’s moved that floozy from the pub in with him. She’s bloody welcome to the sod, as far as I’m concerned.’

I wondered how long it would be until the floozy was passed over in favour of someone else, but said nothing.

‘Anyway,’ she went on, ‘I’ll burst his bubble soon enough – I’m filing for divorce and I want my share of that house, so he’ll have to sell.’

‘Good for you. It was your home too, after all.’

‘I’m looking forward to seeing his face when he’s served the papers!’ She laughed: a little bitterly, I thought, but with good reason.

I thought of Eddie’s permanently sour expression, and remembered Lucy’s despair. It felt immensely satisfying to think that he would get some sort of comeuppance. Yes. What goes around definitely comes around, in the end.