Since all the regular crowd was there, and everyone was so fond of teasing Henry, it quickly turned into a rowdy and even raucous evening. Claudia was so happy to be a part of it that she all but forgot about the clock ticking down on Marcus’s release. However, this was no time to be thinking about it, they were safe here, in this restaurant among friends, and knowing what the evening held with Dan was making everything feel like a wonderful dream coming true.

It was after the main course had been cleared that Richie came to sit beside her, taking the chair that Graeme had just vacated. “You know, I’m going to be covering the trial next week?” he asked quietly.

“Of course,” she replied, her smile fading at the reminder. “We’d expect you to.”

“So, would it be OK to ask your mother for an interview before it starts? You know, to find out how she’s feeling about taking the stand?”

Simply hearing it put into words made Claudia’s heart contract with nerves. “You should ask her, but to be honest, I’m starting to wonder if I’m more uptight about it than she is.”

With a smile Richie said, “She’s a remarkable woman. There aren’t many who’d do what she’s doing—with scars, or without.” He stood, waving to a friend.

“Between us, I wish she’d change her mind, but I can’t see it happening. Now, it looks as though the cake is about to arrive.”

As it was wheeled in full of sparklers and candles, the whole restaurant broke into “Happy Birthday,” and as Henry, beaming with delight, prepared to say thank you, Claudia felt Dan’s arm go around her.

Leaning her head on his shoulder she whispered, “How long before we can go?”

He was about to respond when Richie popped back. “I meant to ask,” he said, keeping his voice down as Henry launched into a speech, “has Marcy visited the prison at all?”

“No,” Claudia replied. “She hasn’t wanted to use up his mother’s time with him, and I think she’s worried about how the other inmates might react when they see her.”

“Got you,” Richie responded. “She’s met with the lawyers by now though?”

“She’s spent a lot of time with Helen Hall and the barrister, Gordon Lock. We’re told he’s a Queen’s Counsel with an impressive reputation.”

“I hear the prosecution are putting their own QC up against him.”

She nodded, feeling anxious and fearful. Her mother was extremely brave to be doing this, especially when she had zero experience in a courtroom. Claudia just hoped to God that the prosecuting lawyer didn’t end up tearing her still fragile confidence to shreds. “If things don’t go as we’d like them to,” she said to Richie, “you’ll treat her well in your reports, won’t you?”