On Friday at eleven o'clock in the morning, Hugh Danvers and I signed the last papers in a solicitor's office in Oxford.

He shook my hand.

“Look after it, Kate,” he said. “I built every one of those houses. I'm too old to run them properly anymore. I know you will.”

At five past eleven, Hearthstone Homes officially owned Larkspur Estates.

At ten past eleven, I rang the managing agent.

“The notice to the Carter family at 12 Larch Close,” I said. “Please withdraw it. Today. And offer them a new three-year tenancy, at the same rent.”

“But there were complaints—”

“I've read the complaints. Two boys playing football before bedtime isn't anti-social behaviour. It's childhood.”

On Saturday morning, Liam came running across the front gardens waving a letter. “They've withdrawn it! Kate, they've withdrawn the notice! And they've offered us three years! Three years!”

He picked me up and spun me round on the lawn. Josh and Sam came out in their pyjamas and started cheering without even knowing why.

Doris watched from her doorway, with her secateurs in her hand and a very knowing look on her face.