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The following afternoon the weather brightened up. Ben made no objection to being left alone again for the afternoon, so I took the opportunity to go into Swindon to do some shopping. This time, I took Poppy with me. I spent a long time choosing a shirt for Ben, as well as new underwear for me. Arriving home with my shopping bags, I saw a car parked outside Rosecroft. Either a neighbour was being cheeky, or Ben had decided to surprise me. Entering the house, I heard voices, and found Ben chatting with a stranger. Dressed in a suit, with neatly trimmed hair, the visitor looked exactly like a car salesman and I grinned in anticipation. But instead of proudly announcing that he had bought a car, Ben hurriedly showed the man out without introducing him.
‘Who was that?’ I asked, peeved at
