‘Packing up.’

‘You don’t need to – I’m going out for lunch and to take Simon for a good long walk soon – work off all those treats you’ve been giving him. You’ll have plenty of space.’

‘No. It’s fine. I’ll get the living room back precisely how you like it. I’ll ask Olivier if I can go next door and do the patterns at his place. His mum’s got a massive wooden table and if he’s using it for his own work, they have wooden floors throughout so maybe I can usehisliving room.’

She picked up the roll and her notepad, measuring tape and pencil case and dumped them on the armchair, then went over to push the coffee table back into place. She scooped her stuff back up and swept past her nan. Christine turned to watch her head up the stairs, but as she did, she tilted and reached out for the sofa to steady herself. Ash stopped in her tracks.

‘Are you okay, Nan?’

‘Yes, fine.’ Nan waved one hand but kept holding on with the other. ‘Got a bit of funny head today – think it must be weather pressure or the start of a cold. Another reason a good walk is ideal. Fresh air and exercise solve a lot of ailments.’

Ash nodded and watched as Nan went back into the kitchen. She looked fine now, and she was an ex-nurse so she tended to know about these things. Plus, she hardly ever got really ill, since her immune-system was so well boosted.

Ash carried on upstairs and there was Simon, sitting outside her closed door, probably waiting for another treat.

‘You gotta stop ratting me out, Simon.’ She shook her head, but she still let him in and gave him the chew from today’s window. Then she picked up her phone to text Olivier and see if he was in. Even if she wasn’t welcome in her own home, at least it gave her an excuse to see him even sooner.