‘Hey, hey. I was looking for you. What are you doing sitting here all alone?’ He clumsily loops an arm over the back of the chair and perches on the armrest, but then overbalances and tumbles into the chair, half-sitting on Jenna and pinning her up against the other arm.

She shoves at him but his size and his drunkenness make him impossible to shift. ‘Damian, get off. You’re hurting me.’

‘Oh, oh. Sorry.’ He tries to move, one hand grabbing the back of the chair, the other waving uselessly in the air but all he succeeds in doing is shifting more of his weight onto her. She tries to wriggle away but there’s nowhere to go. She’s wedged in.

She calls for help but no one replies and all she can hear are Damian’s grunts and groans as he tries – and fails – to grip both armrests and heave himself up.

He slumps back again and rests his head on the chair back. ‘I’m sorry. I only … I wanted to tell you … Tom didn’t hit anyone over dinner.’ He starts to laugh, his body jiggling against her.

‘Damian.’ She shoves at him again. ‘Just get up, would you.’

He looks at her. ‘Are you still here?’ Then the laughter begins up again.

‘Damian, get off me!’ She punches him in the arm, hard, and his laughter dries up instantly.

‘Hey!’ He touches a hand to her face, cupping his fingers around her jaw. ‘What was that for? I like you. I like you, Jenna and I think you like me too.’

‘I’d like you a lot more if you’d just get off!’ She pulls at his hand but his fingers snap back against her jaw as quickly as she releases them.

‘I really like you,’ he slurs. ‘I think we are kin … something …’ He lunges at her, his beard grazing her chin, his wet lips pressing against hers. She twists her head away then hits out at him, smacking him around the side of the head with her palm.

He reels momentarily, then he grips her wrist, anger flaring in his eyes. ‘That was a stupid thing to do.’

Chapter 20

Now

KATE

Kate keeps the smile firmly fixed to her face as she ferries toast racks and plates, piled high with eggs, beans, sausages and bacon, from the kitchen to the dining room table. She’s underestimated Geraldine Rotheram. She’s cleverer than she looks. Joy couldn’t have looked more surprised last night when Kate pulled her to one side for a chat.

‘Did I do something wrong?’ Joy asked, as Kate led her to the therapy room.

Kate gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze then sat down in Tom’s chair and indicated that Joy should take the other one. ‘Not at all. I just wanted to check that everything’s okay.’

‘It’s wonderful. This is such a lovely place.’