‘I’ve always felt,’ Renata continues, ‘that you don’t appreciate how much Kate does for you, how much she does for all of us. I think you did, once; back when I started coming to SoulShrink retreats and I saw you kissing, I thought you two were the perfect couple. You were so much in love and I’ – she falters – ‘I wanted that so much for myself. You and Kate were my role models. You were both so warm, kind and caring, and I felt like part of the family. You were like the parents I’d never had.’

Inwardly, Fran rolls her eyes. God only knows how bad Renata’s home life must have been if she thought Tom and Kate would make better parents.

‘I’d get so angry’ – Renata pulls the cushion tighter to her chest – ‘seeing women flirt with you. It was horrible. I could see you were just being nice to them but it worried me, that maybe one day you might not be so strong, that someone would come along and lure you away. My father was lured away from my mother countless times and it broke her heart. She forgave him because she loved him, just like Kate loves you, and then he left us and destroyed our lives. I couldn’t sleep, worrying what would happen if the same happened to you. SoulShrink saved my life, Tom. You and Kate have saved so many people’s lives but you were prepared to throw it all away and abandon us all.

‘Jenna!’ Renata screeches, making Fran start. ‘All the wonderful people who come to your retreats and you chose her? I saw you, Tom. I saw the way you looked at her, the way you touched her, even the first time you met.’ She swings her legs over the edge of the sofa and sits forward, her eyes fixed on his face. ‘What was so special about her? She wasn’t strong like Kate, she was weak, pathetic, lost. She wanted to destroy SoulShrink and I couldn’t just sit back and let that happen.’ She pauses, her chest rising and falling, her breath coming in short sharp gasps, the candlelight catching the tears in her eyes.

Fran can’t stop staring at her. Has Renata just admitted to killing Jenna? Is that why she broke down in the hot tub? Is that’s why she’s crying now? Fran glances at Tom, writhing around on the ground, smashing his feet against the sofa, grunting and growling, twisting his hands back and forth, trying to work himself free.

Renata’s gaze switches to Fran.

‘Missing your friend, are you?’ she asks. ‘Poor old Joy, laid up in hospital. With any luck she’ll die.’

Fran’s eyes widen with horror.