‘I never minded other women flirting with him because he never reciprocated. Most of the time Ray ran a mile. That all changed when he met Ruth Hepworth.’ Grace sucked in a breath to steady herself. ‘I can’t remember what the occasion was – it might’ve been a school dance or a bingo night – but I remember how she was with him, constantly touching his arm, laughing at his jokes when they weren’t even funny. As I said, normally I would laugh it off, but I knew she was trouble. I could see it in his eyes. I knew.’

‘When did the affair begin?’ asked Carmichael.

‘I couldn’t say for sure, but it was soon afterwards. Oh, the signs were all there: it was like he’d read some kind of manual for cheating husbands. New haircut, different after shave, excuses about working late. He must’ve thought I was an idiot.’

‘Me and Ed knew something was up,’ said Imogen. ‘It was like Dad just checked out of the family. Even when he was at home he wasn’t really here, if you know what I mean.’

‘It must’ve been a hard time for you all,’ said Maggie sympathetically.

‘No, it was after that things were hard,’ said Grace. ‘After he left.’

‘They got together?’ asked Maggie, the implications of what Grace was telling them racing around her mind and slotting together like a jigsaw to produce a picture she wished they’d known about sooner.

‘Yes. She left her family and he left his. They rented a flat in town but it didn’t last. From what I gathered, her husband gave her an ultimatum and she returned home after three months.’

From the sharp way in which Grace imparted that particular nugget of information, Maggie guessed her marriage didn’t work out in the same way.

‘You and your husband never reconciled,’ she stated.

‘Ray was heartbroken when she went back to her husband. He said she was the love of his life.’ As Grace said this, her features twisted in pain. Even now, all these years later, it still hurt like hell. ‘I couldn’t take him back knowing that. So we divorced and eventually he married someone else. But he left me with nothing. The house was in his name and all the money coming in was his, as I didn’t work. He sold up and moved away because he couldn’t face bumping into Ruth and the council had to house the children and me. I was destitute. Ray never gave me a penny.’

Maggie looked at Imogen. ‘Is that why you picked on Julia at school?’

Her face mottled. ‘Imagine what it was like for me, knowing her mum had stolen my dad.’

‘Her mum walked out on her as well,’ Carmichael pointed out and Maggie flashed her a warning look. Even the smallest hint of sympathy for Julia could inflame the situation.