‘Promise me.’

‘I promise. Really.’

She meant it too.

It was alcohol that had broken up her marriage so if she stopped drinking, surely Tom would return to her?

She lasted two hours and then had one little drink.

She woke the next morning on the floor in the living room.

Jez really enjoyed his sessions with his two grandchildren. When they came across to see him that afternoon, he looked up from the keyboard with a smile. But his question was for Andi, who was looking a bit wan. ‘Hey, how’s it going?’

‘OK.’

Hayley came to stand right next to him. ‘Ryan had a sleep so me and Andi lied down too, because we hafta play quietly when he’s having a nap. We did games with our fingers. I’ve been good all day, G’anddad, like Daddy said.’

‘Wow, how about that? And I’ve been learning to play some new songs for you. Will you sing them for me?’

He chose two Wiggles songs and soon had the children up and dancing. When they pulled Andi up to join them, she resisted at first then danced along with them.

Jez’s heart was breaking for her, because although she was making an effort for the children’s sake, she looked very unhappy when she wasn’t dealing with them.

No young woman should have to face what she had. It sickened him to his soul to think about it. He’d ask Kevin if it was possible to find out more than the police could if money was no object.

When the phone rang, Sophie let it, not wanting to be interrupted. Then she remembered Andi and picked it up in case her daughter needed help. But it was Jez.

‘Just thought you should know that Andi’s doing fine with the kids. They came over to spend some time with me and then went back to get their tea. I wondered if you were still working?’

‘I’m winding down. I’ve just got to finish polishing this scene.’

‘How about having dinner with me over here, then you and Andi can walk back together later?’

‘I’d love that.’

‘I’ll come and meet you at the gate. Give me a ring when you’re ready.’

She couldn’t settle down to writing again, but it didn’t matter. She made notes about what the next scene might be like, then saved her work and backed it up carefully.

Wanting to look good, she went up to change, choosing one of her favourite skirts, in swirling shades of dusky violet, and wearing it today with a plain matching top. Andi would have pulled a face at the outfit and told her it wasn’t in fashion – or she would have done before the rape – but Sophie had stopped caring about fashion when she got cancer. Now, what she cared about most was wearing colours that pleased her and made her feel happy when she looked at them, in fabrics that felt soft to the touch.

She rang Jez to say she was ready and stayed on the phone to him until he said he was coming through the gate now. As she was closing the door, she wondered if she heard a sound. She stopped to listen, but couldn’t hear anything. It was probably one of the neighbours. There were signs of movement in the nearby houses, with people home from work or school, and even as she watched, one garage door rolled up and a car reversed out of it.