‘True,’ she said. Pauline made tea for herself and for Molly. ‘Do you think they’ll go easy on us, Molly?’ she asked.

‘They’ll go easy on you, Pauline.’

‘No, no, if you go down, I’ll go down too,’ Pauline said, and it made Molly smile. Pauline would have done anything for the Molly who had saved her all those years ago, but that was the old Molly. This Molly isn’t worth fighting for, Pauline. She told her friend not to be so silly. ‘We’re old women, Pauline – what can they do to us that hasn’t already been done?’

She left soon after, and Molly took the book she’d been hugging into the sitting room and she closed the door, sat down and opened it, and she read.

My name is Rabbit Hayes. I died aged forty on 28 May 2014. It was a cold but sunny day. I can’t tell you exactly how it ended because, well, I’m dead, but I know that one thing’s for sure, I wasn’t alone. My family and friends remained no matter how long, uncomfortable, sad or terrible the whole sorry business was. That’s the thing about a terminal disease: in the end it’s just a waiting game. I can see it all now, Ma by my side, cursing the whole world and dodgy-dealing with God . . .

Heavy tears coursed down her face. Sorry, love. I’m so sorry.

Chapter Sixty-Six: Juliet

Chapter Sixty-Six

Juliet

JULIET’S RELATIONSHIP WITH KYLE was strained since she’d come home. After the assault she had pulled away from him and everybody, cocooning herself from the world, living life in the smallest bubble she could find. She ran and hid from her attacker. She discovered after a month of avoiding the gig venues and the hotel restaurants and bars, double-locking her hotel doors and sometimes resting a chair against them, that he was not interested in a repeat performance, he was one and done. It didn’t help – not really – she was still scared and traumatised and felt so utterly alone. Back in the States she’d wanted to tell Davey but she didn’t have the language for it. She just couldn’t bring herself to say it, and what would happen if she did say anything? Everything would kick off and maybe she’d have to face him again. She felt sick inside every time she thought about that. She’d rather just bury it deep and try her very hardest to move on.