‘Shhh,’ Jenny said. She thought about Indy’s life, so hard compared to her own, her parents already dead, an orphan and barely even an adult. And yet she was always the more mature one in her relationship with Hannah, always the sensible one, the strong one.

‘I’m sorry,’ Indy said.185

‘Don’t be silly.’

Indy pulled away and took a huge breath, wiped at her face. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’

‘You have every right to be upset,’ Jenny said.

Mel was Indy’s friend as much as Hannah’s. Hannah’s obsession had railroaded everyone else out of the way, but the quiet ones like Indy still grieved, they just didn’t kick up a stink about it.

‘It’s just,’ Indy said, sniffing, ‘this is bringing up a lot of stuff. About my mum and dad.’

‘Of course it is.’ Jenny tried to keep her voice calm. ‘You must miss them.’

Indy nodded. ‘More than I ever say to Han. It’s difficult.’

‘I know.’

Jenny wondered how Indy saw her. Indy and Hannah weren’t married, but Jenny was more or less a mother-in-law. She hoped she didn’t come with the baggage that title suggested.

‘You can talk to me anytime,’ she said. ‘About anything.’

‘I just get so angry sometimes,’ Indy said, touching the back of the chair. ‘That they left me alone. But that’s selfish.’

‘It’s totally understandable.’ Jenny thought for a moment. ‘Did you ever speak to anyone about them? I mean counselling or something?’

Indy shook her head. ‘Everyone thinks I’m so strong. No one suggested it.’

‘Everyone needs someone to talk to,’ Jenny said, wondering who she had to talk to. She was the same when Craig left, OK that wasn’t a bereavement, but she felt a whirlwind of fury and emotion, and never spoke to anyone about it. Who could she have gone to?

The phone rang, and Indy fanned at her face and breathed again.

‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ Jenny said.

Indy nodded and took the call.

Jenny watched for a few moments, listening to Indy’s calm reassurances 186to someone else going through trauma, it was amazing she was strong enough to do that. Hannah was lucky.

Jenny wandered to the embalming room. She stood staring at the instruments on the tray next to the empty body table. She ran a hand along the metal. This was the coldest place in the house, the air conditioning running high to reduce decomposition, and the blast of cool air seemed to sooth her hangover. She couldn’t handle drinking during the day, not at her age. Christ, while poor Mel was lying in a bush somewhere and Hannah was getting bailed out of the station, she was kissing her ex-husband against the wall like a fucking teenager. She was mortified. But, if she was being honest, also a little thrilled about that.