‘I don’t know how. And anyway, I’m not into that touchy-feely stuff.’

‘Give it a try. I can teach you.’

‘You’ve never even invited me into that room before. I’ve seen it, but you’ve never shared it with me. You don’t share much with other people.’

Sophie closed her eyes and counted to twenty, then asked mildly, ‘Should I have invited you in? Would you have wanted to use it?’

A shrug, then Andi got up to stare out of the window. ‘I’ve not known what I wanted. I feel …’

Sophie held her breath, sure that it was important to get Andi to talk about her feelings. What came out didn’t surprise her, but she was glad it was out in the open.

Andi swung round and went to stare at the bookcase. ‘I feel as if I’ve been lost for years.’

‘Ever since your father died.’ It wasn’t even a question, it had been so obvious.

She swung round. ‘Yes. Do you still miss Dad?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘But you’re seeing Jez Winter. How can you?’

‘The two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Bill and I always said we’d want the other to find someone else if one of us died.’

‘But no one can replace Dad, no one. Especially a man who’s been into drugs and probably still is.’

‘Jez isn’t into drugs now. He doesn’t even drink alcohol.’

‘That’s what he tells you.’

Sophie prayed for patience. ‘Come and see how it feels in my meditation room. I like to think I’ve made stone tapes there.’

‘What on earth do you mean by that?’

‘I mean that tranquillity has soaked into the walls.’ She led the way and pointed to the floor. ‘Sit on the rug, that’s what it’s for.’

Andi sat down and ran her fingers over the quilted patterns and textures, watching the patterns of coloured light coming in through the stained-glass window play over her fingers as they moved slowly with the sun. She looked up at the window and her voice was more gentle. ‘That window is so beautiful.’

‘I fell in love with it on sight.’

‘Maybe it’d be nice if I just sat here on my own for a while. You’re right. It does feel peaceful in here. I’m grateful for your help and company, but what I’d really like is to be alone.’

‘I’ll be in my office if you need me.’ Sophie hesitated in the doorway, but Andi had closed her eyes and for the first time that day was looking as if she was finding some measure of peace.

It was very hard dealing with someone who snarled at you as if you were the enemy, then clung to you as if you were a life raft, then turned away again.

She thought of Jez, wondering what he was doing, wishing he was here to lean on, just a little. She could stand on her own feet, she’d proved that, but sometimes it was good to have a helping hand. Only, with the way her daughter was feeling, Jez was the last person Sophie could call on. She didn’t dare call on her friends, either, because Andi was always scornful of them, seeming jealous of their long friendships.