‘Do you think she’ll want to see him, after …’

‘Failed romance or not, Madi, they’ve known each other since school. She won’t turn him away. Which reminds me, I need to let Sian know what’s happening too. She’ll be worried sick.’

‘A cup of tea first though, eh? And I’ve only been home a matter of hours myself so I have no idea what I can offer you in the way of food. Whatever Prue’s left behind, I suppose, or something from my freezer.’

‘Don’t go to any trouble, Madi. We’re all tired. Maybe there’s a takeaway or something we could order in? Our treat, for putting us up.’ She followed Madi into the kitchen. ‘Is that … the kettle that was …’

Madi hadn’t given it a thought as she’d filled it with water and flicked the switch on. ‘Oh, I suppose it must be. It’s the only one I’ve got.’

‘I would have thought they might have taken it away, as evidence or something.’

They both stared at it as it began to boil, its blue light highlighting the bubbles as they bounced around inside.

‘I just don’t understand how this has happened. Or why.’ Faith stood leaning against the wall, her arms folded tightly around herself. ‘My Prue wouldn’t hurt a fly …’

‘I know.’ Madi pushed down the awful thought that it was all her fault, that she should never have let Prue stay here when there was some maniac about, someone whose anger was more than likely aimed at Madi, not at Prue. ‘Poor kid.’

‘And she only came back here yesterday to have a last bit of fun, to finish her adventure. If only she’d stayed at home with us, where she belongs.’

‘We can’t tie our kids down, Faith.’ She swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought of George and just how much she needed him right now. ‘They have to live their own lives.’

‘Oh, I know. I’m just having one of those what-if moments. What if she’d never come to London … and now she’s talking about moving here full-time, studying here. Doing a photography course. I shall worry myself sick the whole time, especially now.’

‘I didn’t know that. But she does have talent. Surely, if it’s for her career …?’

‘Yes, and I won’t try to stop her, obviously. Doesn’t stop me fretting though, does it? Now, come on, let’s have that cuppa and ring Sian. Then you can fish out a takeaway menu if you have one.’

Madi remembered the piles of them that constantly built up in the hall downstairs. ‘Oh, I think I can manage that,’ she said.

‘Mum! Are you all right?’

Madi stood at the door early the next morning, still wearing her pyjamas, and looked into the face of her son.

‘George?’ Was it really him? It was as if her longing to see him had actually conjured him up. She had to blink a few times to convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. ‘What are you doing here?’