“Then what’s the problem?” A note of impatience. Todd, who found every social situation easy. Todd, the problem solver. Lower the floor, add skylights, whatever the challenge, he had a solution and he was always sure of it.

Clare had been drawn to him for many reasons, but the biggest had been his certainty. His confidence in his place in the world.

“It will feel strange to see him with someone else.”

“He’s still the same Jack. It’s like remodeling an old house. The bones stay the same even if the outward features are different.” He opened the door. “You don’t even know it’s serious.”

“If it wasn’t serious, he wouldn’t be bringing her. Jack isn’t the type to jump from one relationship to another.”

“And it upsets you?” Todd paused, even though he was now almost certainly going to be late.

What should she say? She’d been on the verge of telling him so many times, but she’d always stopped herself. She’d never been a gossip, something that had frustrated and amused Becca in equal amounts.

For once in your life can’t you enjoy a good bitch about someone? Nice people are boring.

Clare had laughed and tried not to be offended but of course she had been because all her life she’d tried to keep up with Becca. At school she’d been so shy she’d found it difficult to make friends. She’d been teased and excluded by the other children until the day Becca had arrived. Becca, the class rebel had, for some reason Clare never entirely understood, decided to give her best friend status. From that point on Clare had no problems with the other children. She and Becca were as close as sisters, and if some of the things Becca did made her uncomfortable, she accepted it as the price to be paid for friendship. No one was perfect, were they? No one did the right thing all the time.

Todd was watching her. “Is there something else going on, Clare?”

There had been so many times when she’d considered telling him the truth, but decided it wasn’t fair to put him in the same position she was in, particularly as deep down she knew he hadn’t liked Becca that much. What would he say if he knew the truth? What if he judged Becca or, worse, what if he judged Clare?

“It’s been hard, that’s all.”

“It’s coming up to the anniversary. It’s a tough time for you.”

It was, but it was also confusing. Part of her longed to talk about it, but how could she? It would mean admitting how angry she felt, and how confused. And it would feel disloyal. Clare was probably the only person in the world who knew everything about Becca. She knew all about Becca’s childhood. She understood how Becca had become Becca.