After that, they didn’t see Hannah or Jessica again. In the taxi home, Edie chatted to Mac about the temporary living arrangements, where he wanted to work, what he liked to eat and so on. He seemed low and tearful and she was keen to distract him.

The house was in darkness when the taxi pulled up and she was concerned it might feel cold and unwelcoming, but she needn’t have worried. As soon as she’d walked in, dumped her bags in the hall and turned on some lights, the place seemed to spring to life again.

The shiny new kitchen gladdened her heart and even the simple act of turning on the kettle filled her with joy because it wastheirkettle, and they weretheirmugs she was using. She wouldn’t take anything for granted any more.

When she pressed her nose to the back window and looked out at the garden, bathed in moonlight, she could see the row of white azaleas she’d planted last year had come into bloom.

She’d bet she’d be greeted by a beautiful blue cloud of ceanothus, too, when she ventured out of doors tomorrow morning. She’d always liked the months of May and June in the UK best.

‘Home sweet home,’ she said, spinning round with a wide smile and looking first at Mac, then her husband, whose soft, lingering gaze warmed her heart right through.

‘Everything’s going to be all right.’

* * *