My ex-husband invited the former wife he believed was still childless and miserable to his family’s Christmas at their military estate. He never imagined I would arrive on a government tactical helicopter — with four eight-year-olds who had his face.

nine.

Snow across the whole of it. Decorations across a frontage about a hundred and forty feet wide, done properly, by somebody paid to do it.

Four rows of expensive cars down a drive, and a marquee at the side for the catering.

We put down on the pad they keep for the general’s old aircraft — which has not been used since 2016 and which somebody still clears the snow off.

About two hundred yards from the front of that house.

It attracted attention.

It was designed to attract attention. I had chosen that landing point myself, on a chart, on the Thursday, with a ruler — because it is about two hundred yards out and in full view of four large windows on the front of that house.

There was an alternative pad behind the treeline. I looked at it for about four seconds.

Security came out of the house.