She placed her hand on the photo, touching Becca’s face. “I miss her. Even though I’m angry with her, I still miss her. And maybe you’re right that I should have ended the friendship, but that would have meant losing touch with Jack, Izzy and Molly.”

“Well fortunately you no longer have to make that decision. You were a good friend to Becca, Clare.” Her mother stood up and took her cup to the dishwasher. “Now let her go.”

Clare knew she was right. Everything that had seemed murky and difficult now seemed clear. She wished she’d talked to her mother sooner. On impulse she walked across the kitchen and hugged her. “Thank you.”

“For what? Saving you from spiders in the loft? Introducing you to the idea that your sex life will still be good in your seventies?”

Clare laughed. “For always being wise. And for keeping the photo albums and labeling everything. I aspire to your level of organization.”

“It’s easy. You just have to be prepared to throw things out.”

And she was going to do that, she really was.

Her mother was about to say something when there was a sound behind them.

They both turned.

Izzy stood in the doorway, with Flora directly behind her. Flora’s hand was on Izzy’s shoulder in a comforting manner.

Clare waited for Izzy to shrug her off, but she didn’t. Did that signal a truce? “Hello you two! Sorry we took so long. There was a long queue of people before us.” She noticed that Flora’s clothes were wrinkled.

“I wondered—” Izzy broke off and glanced at Flora who gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I wanted to talk to you.” Her hair lay damp across one shoulder and her face was pale. “I didn’t know you were busy—”

“She’s not busy, sweetheart! I’m the one who is busy and I shouldn’t be sitting around here chatting.” Clare’s mother walked to the door, hugging Izzy on the way. Then she smiled at Flora. “Would you be kind enough to walk me to the Gatehouse? It will give us a chance to chat, and I’m feeling a little woozy after my accident.”

Clare doubted her mother was feeling in the slightest bit woozy, but she was grateful for her tact. She just hoped she wasn’t going to scandalize Flora with naked photographs and talk of vibrators.

As the kitchen door closed, Izzy shifted awkwardly. “Sorry. I hope she didn’t leave because of me—”

“She didn’t. I’m so pleased it’s just you and me. We seem to have been surrounded by people since you arrived and haven’t had a chance to catch up properly.” In truth they’d had plenty of chances to catch up, but Izzy had ignored all of them.

But not this time.