Tara had volunteered at the crisis centre because being stressed to the gills fixing other people’s problems was infinitely preferable to sitting in her childhood home that now held no traces of her childhood, while she checked her phone for offers of help from her brother that didn’t come, and mentally compiled lists of questions she wished she’d asked her mother when she’d had the chance. Obviously she’d been glad to help people struggling with every kind of loss, but Tara knew herself pretty well: she’d also been shamefully grateful for the distraction.

She wasn’t Mother Teresa or Wonder Woman. She wasn’t even the Tara Hunter Jacqueline seemed to think she was.

Kemi coughed, self-consciously.

Everyone was waiting, expecting her usual cheerful reaction, but Tara was unexpectedly gripped with panic that if she opened her mouth she’d blurt out an apology, not thanks.

She was saved by the sound of a chair scraping on the tiles, and the crowd parted to reveal Hero standing up with a chiffon bag in her hand.

‘Actually, Jacqueline, I’ve got something for Tara too?’ she said, making a namaste gesture in her direction.

‘Oh, how lovely,’ said Jacqueline uncertainly.

Hero handed Tara the chiffon bag and she juggled the bouquet to undo its golden drawstring. She already had a suspicion about what it might be as she tipped out the contents. And yes, it was. A jagged bracelet slid on to Tara’s palm.

Crystals. She closed her eyes, in order to roll them privately.

‘It’s for comfort as you progress your healing journey,’ Hero explained. ‘Rose quartz, which is, as I’m sure you know, an exceptionally effective heart healer. Apache tears to absorb sadness and protect the hollow spaces inside you until you’re ready to fill them with positivity. And, of course, amethyst, to connect your intuition with those soul spirits who want to help you. If you reach out to them.’

Tara bit her lip. Irritation rattled inside her, completely out of proportion to what she knew was a gesture of kindness from a well-meaning but completely loopy woman.

Which crystal, she wanted to demand, was supposed to undo the shock of your mother dying without any warning of a heart condition she’d hidden from everyone? Was there a crystal to combat emotional exhaustion? One that helped you make better decisions? Which crystal made you feel normal again?

Hero gently closed Tara’s hand over the bracelet, cupping it with both her hands in a blessing. The sharp edges cut into Tara’s palm. ‘I’ve charged the crystals with loving energy but any time you feel you need them boosted, just let me know, OK? I’m always here.’

‘Thank you, Hero,’ said Tara.

‘Yes, thank you, Hero, for that heartfelt gesture.’ Jacqueline clapped appreciatively. ‘And it goes without saying, Tara, we’re all here for you. Any time.’