‘But it wasn’t the fire that killed our baby, it was me,’ Claudia replied, anger clenching her words.

‘No, sweetheart, no! If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. It shouldn’t have taken a tragedy to make me realise how precious you are to me. I should have been there.’

This last comment pierced Leanne’s cold heart. Survivor guilt at its worst. It was all too much, she needed to leave. She picked up her notepad and shoved it into her rucksack.

Still holding on to his wife, Justin turned his head towards her. He no longer looked like a burly rugby player, his loss had diminished him. ‘We want people to know. It’s time.’

Leanne nodded. ‘I’ll be in touch if I need anything else,’ she said, rising to her feet.

Justin went to follow her, but Claudia held him back. ‘I’ll see Leanne out,’ she insisted.

In the time it took Leanne to lace up her Doc Martens, Claudia had composed herself. ‘I never wanted to go public,’ she explained. ‘That’s not why I agreed to this interview. I’m only interested in raising money for the charity and letting people know about the memorial service.’

Leanne believed her. ‘I shouldn’t worry. I imagine your story will generate lots of support for your cause.’

Claudia didn’t appear convinced. ‘Could you do me a favour? Don’t over-egg it. I’m scared people will think I’m looking for pity, and I’m really not. Mention the miscarriage if you must, but no one needs to read some tragic backstory of how my mum died when I was little. It’s what’s happening in the present that’s important. There are those suffering so much more right now.’

‘I won’t mention your childhood,’ Leanne said, eager to do whatever Claudia asked, despite herself.

Claudia pressed a business card into Leanne’s hand. ‘You’ve been so good. I was dreading today, but I’m glad it was you I spoke to. I promise, I’ll send you over the press release when it’s ready, but ring me any time, if you have questions.’

Once outside, the slap of cold rain on Leanne’s face gave her a jolt. Mal had tasked her with finding heroes, but this had been the last place she had expected to find one. Claudia had gone against every one of Leanne’s preconceptions. She didn’t like how much she liked her.

3

Leanne pulled up in front of a rusted gate that barred further progress. Unlike Claudia’s little palace, there was no high-tech security system to grant access to Leanne’s home, just an old-fashioned padlock that had a habit of freezing in winter.