Do I have a great sense of belonging back home in St Albans? I don’t know. I’ve never even met half of my neighbours. I’m on nodding terms with the people next door, but they’re not the sort you could turn to in an emergency. They, as we like to say, keep themselves to themselves. Isn’t it strange that we view this as a quality in those with whom we live in close proximity to? We know what each other does for work and that’s about as far as it goes. You could put it down to the fact that most of us in the street are commuters and we never catch a glimpse of each other from one year’s end to the next. But is it more to do with an inherent lack of interest in the welfare of others these days? I bet none of them have even noticed that Jake and I have split up. Would they care anyway?

Dean breaks into my musings: ‘We need to set off back, so that we’ll make it before dark,’ he says. ‘Have you seen enough?’

And I have. I’ve seen enough to know that I’m falling in love. In love with this wonderful place. And with Dean.

Chapter fifty-nine

Chapter fifty-nine

Jake was in Alec’s office. The silence could only be described as tense.

His boss had put the barrier of his desk between them both. Jake sat on a hard chair, keeping his hands under his thighs in case they were tempted, of their own volition, to punch the smarmy bastard’s lights out. Alec, on the other hand, was standing up, pacing the carpet, clicking his pen on and off nervously.

‘The thing is,’ Alec continued, ‘I’m not sure you’re still in the loop, Jake.’

‘Loop?’

Alec cleared his throat. ‘I think it’s fair to warn you that you may…may…be involved in some sort of departmental restructuring in the near future. I…the board…can’t rule it out.’

‘You mean I’m going to be fired.’

Alec chewed at his lip. ‘I can see where you’re coming from,’ he said. ‘But you have to appreciate, Jake, that this isn’t personal.’

‘It isn’t personal?’

‘Of course not.’

Jake crossed his arms and tried to keep his face impassive. ‘So it’s nothing to do with the fact we’re both shagging Neve?’

Alec blanched. ‘We’re simply undertaking a cost-saving initiative.’

‘In other words, start scouring the job ads, Jake.’

His boss failed to meet his eyes. ‘It may be the wise thing to do.’

‘Then I’d like a glowing reference,’ Jake said.

‘I’m not sure…’

‘I’d like a glowing reference now,’ Jake repeated calmly.

‘I…’