“Because they needed to think something, and I couldn’t tell them the truth. I made a promise to someone.” And now she was about to break that promise, but she couldn’t see any other way. Zoe lived in the boathouse. What was Milly supposed to do? Arrange for her daughter to stay with her grandmother for the duration of Nicole’s visit however long that turned out to be? That wasn’t going to happen. After all the upheaval Zoe had endured in the past eighteen months, Milly was determined to minimize any change in her life. No, Zoe was staying in her own home. Sleeping in her own room.

All the same she felt uncomfortable because she prided herself on being one hundred percent discreet and dependable as a friend, and that wasn’t going to change just because Nicole’s own behavior had fallen short. If someone told her a secret, she guarded it fiercely. And Nicole’s presence was a secret.

She wished she’d thought to discuss this part with Nicole so at least she was warned.

“I’m going to tell you something, and you can’t repeat it to anyone. Not to Dad, not to your friends at school—especially not your friends at school. I’m trusting you with this because I know you won’t gossip.”

Did she know that? Zoe was thirteen and had a close group of friends. Granted, they spent far more time outdoors on their bikes than they did curled up indoors painting their nails, but they were still teenagers, and they still giggled and talked. Milly didn’t know what they talked about, but remembering herself at the same age she was pretty sure there weren’t many topics that would be out of bounds. Zoe probably talked about things she wouldn’t discuss with her mother, which was exactly how it should be, of course. But gossip? The sharing of secrets? That was different. Having Nicole Raven staying in your house would be enough to make the average teenager burst with excitement, but hopefully Zoe would be able to contain herself.

Milly drove out of the village and eased into the traffic on the main road.

Zoe was virtually vibrating with expectation. “What?”

“Do you promise not to say anything?”

“I promise! Am I supposed to swear a blood oath or something? This is pretty intense. What’s going on?”

“Last night I had to go out, that’s true, but I wasn’t on a date.”

“I know! You just said that, but where were you, then? Mum, you’re killing me. Just say it!”

But once she said it she wouldn’t be able to unsay it. She wished she’d never been put in this position. “Nicole called me a couple of days ago.”

“Nicole?” There was a pause as Zoe absorbed that. “You mean our Nicole? Aunt Nicole?”