Ellie felt that it had been so long since she had spent time with a genuinely handsome man. Not just pleasant, or nice-looking but someone who people looked at twice when they came into a room.

She had known, really, from that first glimpse of Mark on the Hinge page. No dumb accessories, no cute dog, just a face from the gods with enough of a smile to hint at a warm welcome.

The contrast from the last date she had been on was so overwhelming it made her laugh out loud to think about it. She had known in advance that he was balding but hadn’t been quite prepared for the head like a bowling ball. She hated the idea of going on appearances alone, so she had smiled sweetly over a couple of drinks while he talked about crankshafts and carburetors before activating the phone call from a sick friend procedure that she and Hannah had perfected some time ago.

After a month they spent most weekends together, either at his place or hers, and after three it was most evenings as well.

Mark was an architect which was perfect as far as Ellie was concerned. Creative, but also practical with just a hint of maths. He was modest, but after a lot of coaxing he did give a tour of some of the projects he had worked on: the façade of the station, the new Maggie’s Centre at the hospital and the gorgeously refurbished restaurant that she had wanted to try based on its new windows alone.

The pleasing aroma as they went through the art deco front door was intoxicating. They had spent enough time together now for Ellie to feel relaxed and she could concentrate on the prospect of some beautiful food.

Mark had gone to exchange a few words with somebody he referred to as Richard, apparently the owner of the restaurant. He had been gone a few minutes when Ellie decided to check out the toilets. Always interesting in fancy places.

As she followed the discreet signage, she passed a doorway and caught the briefest glimpse of Mark handing over an envelope to a man who briefly opened it before handing a small package in return.

After that all the edible flowers and shellfish reductions couldn’t rescue the evening for Ellie. Every possible scenario played out in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

It only delayed the inevitable. The next morning, after Mark had asked her several times what was worrying her, the story of his latest lapse back into his high-functioning addiction emerged.

Looking back, it was the complacency that had really cut through. Not for him the desperation of the street junky. He had it all under control. How else would he be able to design all those wonderful buildings?

She stayed for a week. Something that afterwards caused her some regret. Lapsed was a word that had taken a fair proportion of her childhood. Another handsome man, her dad. As the locks were being changed, she vividly remembered her new Yale key from years ago. She picked up her phone and dialed the one person who would understand why she had to act quickly. ‘Hi Mum…’