‘Penny for them.’ Madi’s voice broke into her thoughts.

‘Oh, sorry. Miles away there!’

‘So, what do you think? Is it how you imagined it?’

‘Even better.’ Prue stood up, with Camilla the camera bouncing on its strap against her chest. ‘And that is why I am now going to take so many photos that I’ll be busy for a week trying to edit them!’

Madi put her hand out and stopped her from walking away. ‘I am sorry, Prue. I know I’ve said it before. But if it wasn’t for me, you would never have been living her, never have had that evil woman attacking you like that …’

‘If it wasn’t for you, I would not be standing in this beautiful garden, surrounded by new friends, with a wonderful new London life to look forward to. And I wouldn’t have met Simon. Don’t beat yourself up about things that were never your fault, Madi. How could you possibly have known what was going to happen? And, in the end, only good has come out of the whole thing.’

‘Are you sure you won’t move in with me while you’re doing your course?’

‘For three whole years? A month, we said. There’s no way I am going to impose on you for any longer, and besides … I hear there’s a flat going spare.’

‘Here?’

‘Emily Parker’s. Suzy’s made it a condition of the sale that I get it for the first year, if I want it. Special rent. She says it’s her family mess that led to me being hurt and she wants to make amends. A year suits me fine. After that, who knows? I might move into student halls, or find someone I’d like to share with …’

‘I think you probably already have.’ Madi’s gaze turned towards Simon, who had moved away to chat to someone about doing some building work in their mother’s house in Ealing.

‘Early days, Madi. I’m not going to rush it, not after the whole Joe thing, but I’m hopeful. I really am.’

‘I’m glad. And thank you for inviting me down to Shelling for the weekend. I’m so looking forward to seeing everyone again.’

‘We’re glad of the lift back. Simon’s bringing so much stuff I would have dreaded lugging it all home on the train. And they say it’s us women who can’t go away without packing everything but the kitchen sink!’

Chapter 44

MADI

On Saturday afternoon, Madi pulled the car into the kerb outside Prue’s cottage. How different it looked now in the summer sunshine, the dead daffodils replaced by vibrant red dahlias that matched the colour of the front door, and the old wooden gate that had creaked and dragged against the path now replaced by a new one, also painted in bright shiny pillar-box red.

‘Glad to be home?’ Madi asked, turning in her seat to talk to Prue and Simon, huddled cosily side by side in the back seat.

‘Always.’

‘Won’t you miss it when you move to London?’