‘It’s funny how Claudia didn’t have any trouble conceiving around the time she was seeing Declan, and yet Justin’s fertility problems go all the way back to his first marriage.’ Leanne had heard this from Phillipa. They had had a second conversation, ostensibly to prepare for the feature on Phillipa’s marriage, but the conversation had touched on Claudia’s too. Reading between the lines, Phillipa was harbouring the same suspicions as Leanne.

‘I don’t mean to sound seedy,’ said Joe with a smirk, ‘but what if Declan’s real attraction was his sperm?’

Not amused, Leanne abandoned her cucumber for a large swig of gin. ‘In that case she would have had what she wanted from him. So why follow him inside the theatre? And why did Declan end up trapped upstairs, but not Claudia?’

‘She could have been looking for him somewhere else.’

‘Yeah, like in the stalls,’ Leanne said. ‘Which again doesn’t help me prove that she didn’t save Amelia. What are we missing?’ She was staring off into space, when movement caught her eye. Someone was waving frantically at her from across the pub. Amelia kneeling up on a dining chair and when she knew she had Leanne’s attention, she said something to her mum.

‘For now, it might be safest to stick to Plan A,’ Leanne said as Amelia approached.

‘Did you give Claudia my drawing?’ asked Amelia.

‘I certainly did, and she loved it.’

‘I might make her a Christmas card next.’

Leanne could feel her lips stretching taut across her teeth as she attempted a smile. ‘Are you excited for Christmas?’

‘It’s my absolute favourite time of year.’

‘I hope you’ve been a good girl for Santa,’ said Joe, jumping into the conversation and killing it stone dead. He didn’t need Leanne’s scowl to tell him he sounded creepy.

Amelia looked at him with mild curiosity. ‘You do know he’s not real, don’t you?’

‘It’s probably just as well,’ said Leanne, ‘Joe would be getting a sack of coal.’

Cupping a hand over her mouth, Amelia whispered, ‘Is he your boyfriend?’

‘Actually, he’s my best friend’s boyfriend, which sort of makes him a substitute best friend,’ Leanne admitted. It was the first time she had had to describe their relationship since Lois’s death, and she had said the first thing that sprang to mind.

‘I couldn’t have described us better,’ Joe said.

Leanne cleared her throat. ‘We were just deciding what to buy for Christmas.’ She put down her drink and placed a hand on the catalogue as if it were a holy scripture. She said a silent prayer.

‘I’ve made my list,’ Amelia told her. ‘I want a Samsung Galaxy. A second-hand one will do.’

‘Aren’t you a bit young for a mobile?’ challenged Joe.

Amelia gave him a look. ‘I’m ten.’