When the phone rang Adrian figured it would be one of those international call centres people were always complaining about. No one else phoned him at home anymore. He picked up and waited for the telltale pause as the call clicked over to a salesperson. Instead, a deep voice asked for him by name.

‘Yes,’ Adrian said, still expecting a spiel about a personal insurance plan. ‘That’s me.’

Beside him, his wife drained a saucepan of hot water into the sink. Kate grimaced as pasta tumbled out and steam poured against the window, curling up towards her.

The voice on the phone went on. He said he was a doctor. Somebody had been in an accident.