‘See you again soon, I hope. The offer’s still open, for tea at mine. I can’t promise custard creams, but I do make a mean Victoria sponge.’ Faith took a pen from her handbag and scribbled something on a tiny scrap of paper, which she tore off the corner of a used envelope. ‘My number,’ she said, hovering long enough to make it obvious she expected to receive Madi’s number in return. As soon as Madi had, reluctantly, supplied it and Faith had written it down, Faith gave a little wave over her shoulder and wandered away, leaving Madi alone on the path. ‘Just let me know when you’re coming, and I’ll have that sponge rustled up and in the oven toot sweet!’

Madi slid the scrap of paper into her pocket, the edge of her scarf slipping out as she withdrew her hand. It hadn’t seemed worth the charade of tying it on again, now that the cat was out of the bag. She didn’t believe for a minute that her health, or her dubious celebrity status as an ex-soap actress, would remain secret for long. But did it really matter? She was who she was, wig and all, and if people couldn’t deal with that they probably weren’t worth knowing.

Chapter 9

PRUE

For the second time in a week, Aaron was coming in just as Prue was going out, Madi’s letters in her hand, her own address in Shelling now written across the front, ready to post on to her. This time she held the door for him and they stopped for a few moments to chat.

‘We seem to be making a habit of this,’ he joked.

‘Ships that pass in the night.’

‘I don’t know about that.’ He looked at the time on his phone, which was wired direct to his ears as usual, and switched off whatever it was he had been listening to. ‘It’s quarter past nine in the morning.’

‘Just an expression. So, what gets you up and about so early?’

‘Early?’ He laughed. ‘I’ve been up and about for hours. This is bedtime for me. I work nights at a supermarket. You know, stacking shelves, sweeping up, all the things that have to go on before the shop opens up again in the mornings. I finish at eight, stop for a bit of brekkie, then get the train home. You?’

‘Oh, I’m on a month’s leave. Free as a bird, just looking forward to exploring. No plans, just wanting to get out early and make the most of the day. I work for a newspaper when I’m at home. Just a little local one, but it keeps me busy. I’m a photographer.’

‘Cool.’

‘Well, I won’t keep you from your sleep. At least I’ll be out most of the day so you won’t have me stamping about making noise through your ceiling.’

‘Wouldn’t bother me if you did. There’s always noise in a place like this. Traffic and stuff. But I can sleep pretty much anywhere, and earplugs are a wonderful thing.’