‘So, how much climbing have you and Callum done, then?’ Kelly got straight to the point. Josie stared at her, her mouth open.

‘Don’t worry, your dad hasn’t got a clue, it was me who thought there might be a handsome young man involved. You like him a lot, I can tell.’

‘How… do you know?’ It was a sweet question and one that Kelly assumed a lot of teenagers asked, safe in the watertight knowledge that no generation before them ever felt the same.

‘Because, believe it or not, I quite like your dad. In that way.’

‘Ugh!’ Josie recoiled, but Kelly knew that the girl was desperate to share her secret.

‘You’re old enough to know how to stay safe. Do you talk to your mum about boys?’

‘No!’

Josie blushed.

‘I just want to say that I’m here. I won’t judge. I know a lot of stuff. Come to me anytime. And I won’t tell your dad.’

Josie smiled tentatively, then spoke in almost a whisper.

‘I feel this thing in my tummy when I see him. It makes me feel sick. I haven’t ever had it before. I guess it makes me look stupid. I don’t even think he likes me.’

‘Well then he’s a fool. Does he avoid looking at you directly?’

‘Yes.’

‘Does he make stupid jokes around you?’

‘Yes.’

‘He adores you. Have you kissed?’

‘Kelly!’

‘Sorry. Is he nice to you?’

‘Super nice.’

‘Good. Because if he’s not, I want to know.’ Josie smiled at her.

They went back to the living room and witnessed Ted moving to music unconsciously. Josie had sown a seed and Kelly winked at her. Kelly helped him set the final things on the table and they found themselves in the kitchen alone.

‘How’s your sister, Kelly? Do you see much of her?’

The question caught her off guard.

‘No, I don’t actually. We are very different, you know.’

‘Oh, I know. Wendy told me. Sometimes, you know, difference is inevitable. But everyone needs family. Could you patch it up? For your mother’s sake?’

Kelly didn’t answer. She felt how Josie must have felt five minutes ago receiving a pep talk from an elder who should mind their own business.

‘She knows where I am, Ted.’

They went to the table.

Chapter 17

By Friday, Kelly thought she might make it to the weekend without a major incident at work, and she settled back in her chair to review the details of the cold cases that still bugged her. She imagined Friday afternoons elsewhere to be full of anticipation of a lie in and a weekend ahead full of lazy lunches and leisure activities. Not so in police work. A five o’clock finish on a Friday was something to aspire to.

It was four thirty in the afternoon.