She ran a hand through her hair. ‘Eight? Wow. I can’t remember the last time I worked past seven. Sorry for keeping you hanging around, Edie.’

‘Not a problem,’ I said, struggling to remember the last time I’d actually left work before seven, other than to go for a drink with Ruby, Roger or Luke. Nor, for that matter, could I remember the last time I hadn’t immediately started reviewing drawings, or checking emails, once home; although I had a sneaking suspicion that it may have been 19 October 2016 – the day before I threw Jason out and told him never to come back.

‘Time’s racing,’ sighed Ruby, ‘and I’ve got so much to sort and only a week left to sort it.’

I shook my head. ‘The rest of us can mop up. You mustn’t go nuts trying to get everything done.’ I took a sip of wine and stared contemplatively into my glass, my mind still half on Jason.

‘Why so maudlin?’ asked Ruby.

‘I’m just tired,’ I replied. ‘Like you say, it’s been a long day. But this is helping.’ I held up my glass.

She lowered her drink, studying me for a moment. ‘Is everything OK? You seemed a bit flat after your chat with Alison at lunchtime. Hope there isn’t a problem with the project.’

‘No, it’s all great,’ I said, confused by the comment.

‘Good. I was only asking because you looked a bit more intense than usual this afternoon, that’s all. And then again, just a moment ago.’

‘Oh, that. That was just Jason,’ I said dismissively.

She stiffened and placed her glass in a slow, deliberate manner on the low table between us, while I immediately regretted mentioning him.

To the casual observer, she and Jason had got on fine when he and I were together. But I had always been aware of a slight tension on her part and, although Jason was an expert at hiding his feelings, I could tell that he was never entirely relaxed in her company either. I wondered later if he’d sensed disapproval in her even then, because there was certainly no missing it now, and ever since his multiple one-night stands had come to light, she had been anything but restrained in her opinion of him.

‘What’s he done?’ she asked, her voice, for the moment, as controlled as her actions.

I took a breath. ‘Look, I’m not upset, so there’s no need for you to be upset on my behalf.’

‘What has he done?’ she repeated.

‘Nothing more than remind me of the past.’

‘How so?’

‘It’s really no big deal. It’s just a practicality,’ I said, leaning back in my armchair. ‘You know how much I’ve hated renting since we split and sold up.’

She nodded.