‘Tara, I’ve got a massive favour to ask.’ Her eyes were even bigger than normal. ‘It’s not for me, but I said I was seeing you tonight and that I’d ask you …’

Tara touched her arm, glad to be reassuring. ‘If it’s about the counselling waiting list, the good news is that some of my colleagues have offered to—’

‘No, no, it’s not about that.’ Alice glanced around and dropped her voice. ‘This is strictly confidential, but we’re trying to find somewhere for a family from Linnet Close – they’ve been asked to leave their temporary accommodation because of an … incident, and there’s nothing else available. Jess on the housing team is desperate.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I told Jess I’d ask … is anyone staying in your mum’s Airbnb place at the moment?’

Linnet Close. Why did that ring a bell? And then Tara remembered: that was where the Bannons’ house was. Pyromaniac Rhys, Gareth and his drum kit. Tara fought not to let the horror show on her face. ‘Is this the Bannon family?’

‘Yes! I mean, maybe.’ Alice’s eyes darted from side to side. ‘How did you know that?’

‘I’m their counsellor.’

‘Oh.’ Alice looked temporarily flummoxed. ‘Oh. Have I broken some confidentiality thing? Ugh. I never know. But that doesn’t have to be a problem. You wouldn’t be talking to—’

Tara made a snap decision. ‘I’m sorry, Alice, but someone’s already in the studio.’

‘Who?’

‘My dad.’

‘Your dad?’

Tara nodded. ‘I was going to talk to you about it tonight – he’s been staying at The Swan. I think he thought the council would pay his accommodation expenses.’

‘No! Oh God, how much?’ Alice’s expression confirmed Tara’s fears about funds.

‘Um, a lot. I thought it would be terrible if we ended up spending thousands on his accommodation when the money could be used on something more immediately helpful. So I said he could stay.’

Alice’s shoulders slumped, then rose again. ‘Well, I suppose that solves one problem – thanks, Tara, for offering that option.’

‘My pleasure,’ said Tara automatically, because her inner counsellor was banging her head on her imaginary desk. One way or another, this probably wasn’t her finest hour.

Dad was back in the house, just as Diane had predicted.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Tara’s decision to meet Phil in the IKEA cafe just outside Birmingham should, she reasoned, signal loud and clear her decision to end their relationship. Not even Phil’s sexy magic could work surrounded by meatballs and flatpack wardrobes. And there would be no lingering. Straight in, The Conversation, then out.

Once she’d made up her mind, Tara felt surprisingly positive about it. The only downside – and it was a big downside – was having to return the one gift of Phil’s that she really valued: Sybil.