‘What on earth are you still doing here?’ he asked quietly. ‘You’re pushing yourself towards influenza, without a doubt. Especially after that soaking this afternoon.’ He nodded towards my sodden coat, which I had hung over the back of a chair to dry.

I smiled at his kindness. ‘I’m fine. My coat kept me dry. I just didn’t sleep very well last night.’ I put my hands to my face and rubbed my eyes.

‘So go home and get some sleep, then. That’s the answer, isn’t it?’

Cameron stood up a second time and I looked anxiously past Roger and towards him. I really didn’t want to miss him leaving.

Roger glanced over his shoulder, as Cameron picked up a roll of drawings and unfurled them on his board.

‘Well, it’s time for me to be off,’ said Roger suddenly, checking his watch.

I frowned up at him. ‘Really? You’ve just got yourself that coffee, haven’t you?’

‘Aye,’ he said wearily, ‘that was stupid of me, wasn’t it? Never mind, eh? I’ll just take it with me.’ He returned to his desk, switched off his screen and began gathering his things. ‘I reckon Alison’s forgotten that she’s meeting with Richard Webster tonight. Last-minute arrangement to discuss the park development.’ He looked towards her office. ‘She’s making no sign of moving.’

I turned in my chair as he walked towards her door and, lightly tapping, entered. I heard ‘drinks’ and ‘Webster’ before he pulled the door shut behind himself.

I sighed and went back to my screen, feeling completely drained and wondering how much longer I could last. Staying awake was becoming a genuine concern.

However, at that moment, both Roger and Alison emerged from her office, the latter hurriedly putting on her coat as he held her bags. ‘Thank you for reminding me,’ she was saying. ‘I would have completely forgotten. Goodnight, Edith, Cameron.’

Roger raised his coffee cup in silent farewell, and they were gone.

And then it was just us.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply three times and then, unwilling and unable to think the situation through any more than I had already, I rose to my feet and slowly crossed the office, coming to a halt beside Cameron’s desk.

His back was to me and as I stood, dry-mouthed and preparing to attempt speech, I was transported back to that similarly rainswept day, when I had invited him to come for a drink with Ruby and me – for a bet.