In the end she dodged the question. “I haven’t had a chance to get to know her as well as Molly, but she’s been amazing. She’s held everything together.”

“It must have been hideous for her. Izzy was very close to Becca. She worshiped her mother.”

Jack returned with a plate of meat, saving Flora the trouble of trying to find a suitable response. He placed it on the table next to the salads.

“I think I rescued it moments before we needed the fire service.” He slid his arm round Flora and pulled her close.

Had he heard that comment about Becca? Maybe he had, because he was both protective and affectionate. Unfortunately, he chose to kiss her at the exact moment Izzy appeared at the bottom of the garden.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Izzy stopped so suddenly Aiden cannoned into her.

“Oops—” He caught her by the shoulders to steady her.

Flora instinctively tried to move away from Jack, but he had his arm firmly round her shoulders and tugged her back.

“Izzy! Food.”

“Jack—” Flora spoke in an undertone “—I’m worried we’ll upset her.”

“And I’m worried you’ll be upset by all this talk of Becca.” He kept his arm firmly round her. “It’s fine.”

Was it fine?

Finally Izzy approached, Aiden a few steps behind her.

Flora had never been so tense.

“You two are soaking!” Clare put her plate down and made a clucking noise of disapproval. “What happened?”

“No point in having a lake if you don’t use it. We swam off the dock.” Aiden strolled to the table and scanned the food.

“In your clothes?”

Izzy was glaring at Flora. She decided eye contact was making it worse, so she looked away. Should she say something? Or was it better if Jack did?

His arm was still looped round her shoulders, protective. Possessive.

“It was an impulse thing.” Aiden tore off a piece of bread and ate it without bothering with a plate. “It’s a warm evening. Clothes dry. Don’t fuss.”

Clare turned to Izzy. “Do you want to take a hot shower before you eat? Change?”

“I’m fine, Aunt Clare.” There was an instant change in Izzy’s manner once her attention wasn’t focused on Flora.

She wondered what she’d been doing with Aiden other than swimming. Were they together? A couple? Or just friends.

Using the food as an excuse, she managed to ease away from Jack’s arm just as Molly sprinted up to her.

“Flora! Come and watch Chase run after the stick. He’s so funny.”

“Don’t you want to eat?” Flora put a leg of chicken on her plate and added salad.

“Soon.”

“I’ll come,” Izzy said, but Molly took Flora’s free hand and tugged.

“Flora needs to see. She’s never seen the way he does those spins.”