‘It’s just for preliminary drawings,’ Keith explained, as the others slowly gravitated back towards him. ‘Somewhere to start. We’ll try to get something over to you in the next week or so, and we can start talking.’

Rob Lloyd hove into view behind them with Peter, who obviously wanted to add one last detail. ‘Keith, before you go, Peter has a quick question about that app you were using to calculate, um, whatever it was you were calculating …’

‘Amazing what they can do these days,’ said Peter. Which was about as close to a compliment as they were likely to wring out of him.

Tara could see Diane talking to Catherine by the door; she kept shooting suspicious glances in Keith’s direction while Catherine gestured on, oblivious.

‘Excuse me,’ Tara murmured and crossed the hall.

‘If we’re done?’ Catherine checked her watch. ‘Got to pick up Evie from cricket, then get Aaron on the way back – non-stop, isn’t it? I’ll see you next week, Tara! Thanks for getting your dad involved! Very secret squirrel of you!’

She’d gone before Tara could put her right, leaving her alone with Diane. And Tara got the distinct feeling from the ominous way Diane was shoving her shirtsleeves up her freckled forearms that she had Thoughts to Share.

‘I see he’s got them eating out of the palm of his hand,’ Diane observed.

‘Apart from you.’

‘Not so much, no. But then he’s not really aiming his charm cannon at me, is he?’

Tara liked Diane so much, and respected her even more, which made her attitude hard to deal with. ‘He’s here to assess the hall for damage, Diane. He doesn’t need to charm anyone. But since you mention it, if he’s got Peter on side …’

Diane made a disparaging noise. ‘Peter’s anyone’s for a laser tape measure.’

‘Can’t you just give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens?’ Tara dropped her voice. ‘I doubt he’s going to be spending a lot of time here – you met Conrad, I bet he’ll be leading the team, not Dad. This is just the meet-the-team PR moment. You won’t have to see him again after today if you don’t want to.’ In fact, there’s no reason for you to be here at all, she added silently.

‘It’s not about me.’ Diane inspected her over the top of her gold half-moon rims. ‘I’m looking out for you, that’s all, love.’

‘I’m a big girl, Diane. And this is about the community, not me. Don’t,’ she added, as Diane opened her mouth to contradict her. ‘Please?’

Keith was heading over, Peter still chatting with an animated expression that Tara had never seen before. Diane shook her head. Her earrings jangled disapprovingly. ‘Just remember your mum. OK?’ And she stalked out into the foyer.