Half an hour later, I’d showered, washed my hair, tentatively eaten some breakfast and was now sitting at my desk, gazing out of my study window. There were hints of blue in the sky, but a steady spring rain was falling and, through the slightly open window, I could hear it tap-tap-tapping on the leaves. It was a gentle, soothing sound and I sat listening to it for a few minutes, taking it all in before I fired up my laptop and dived back into my current work in progress.

I wandered in and out of the kitchen a couple of times to get much required cups of tea and a snack but, having hit a good stride, the next time I looked up, twilight had settled over the garden, and my stomach made a loud growl. Closing the lid of my laptop, I stood up, stretched and wandered over to the full-length patio doors that lead out into the garden from my study. Looking across, I could see a light on in the studio. It seemed that Jack had already started to set up shop down there, and I was glad. There had long been a niggle at the back of my mind that I’d spent a lot of money on something that was just sitting empty after my original plan didn’t work out, so it was good that it was finally being put to use. I switched the light off in my study and pootled out to the kitchen to find something for dinner. A short time later, Jack entered through the back door.

‘Hi,’ I said, pulling a pizza from the oven. ‘I was just about to call you. Do you want some of this?’

‘Looks great. I’ll just wash my hands.’

‘I saw the light on down there. Are you settling in OK? Is there anything you need?’

‘No, it’s great! Are you definitely sure you don’t want to use it for work?’

‘Positive,’ I said. ‘I like listening to the rain but I’m not such a fan of scooting down the garden in it. I’m cosy in my study.’

‘I’m pretty used to working in the rain, so I’m sure a quick jog to the office won’t do me any harm.’

‘That’s true. I’m not really sure why I got it, to be honest, because I like my study. I have my sofa there, all my books, all my research material. I didn’t really need the outbuilding, but you see all these gorgeous garden offices and I guess I got caught up in having the space, and what I thought I needed.’

‘Easy enough to do,’ he replied, drying his hands on the towel. ‘I think we all get caught up like that from time to time until we find out that what we actually need is the opposite of what we’re doing.’

I felt like we might stray into dangerous territory, so I gave him a brief smile then plonked the pizza down on the table. ‘Enjoy!’