‘True, and probably has no idea it won’t be happening. Poor Ines. And now her mother dead as well. Did she fly out this morning, do you know?’

Mary wasn’t sure.

‘The dinner last night was lovely, by the way,’ Della added carefully. ‘I hope you weren’t too upset by …’ She trailed off.

Mary nodded but a tightness in her throat stopped any reply.

‘Are you OK?’ Della asked, angling her head to take stock. ‘You look pale this morning.’

Again, Mary tried to answer, but all she could do was nod. If words would come, maybe this was her chance. Maybe she could tell Della what was really going on. But no words came. And then Della was speaking again.

‘Listen, Eddie’s an awful man for the drink. I wouldn’t pay a blind bit of notice to what he says.’ Della folded her arms, a clear full stop on the subject, and the moment had passed for ever.

Two other women joined them, one pushing a buggy, both holding toddlers by the hand, and the conversation turned to the weather. Mary nodded and smiled, just as she always did, but her mind was on last night. And high in the sky above, the sun kept beating down, giving no hint at all of what was about to unfold.

‘Oh, Ines must have gone,’ Della said suddenly, ‘Cynthia’s here.’

Mary turned to look. Cynthia was making her way across the green towards them, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, a long white skirt trailing slightly on the grass.

‘Is Cora here?’ she asked when she drew level with them, smiling at each woman in turn.

‘Yes, they’re all there playing Hide and Seek – Cora’s helping Lily to hide,’ Della said, nodding towards the woods.

A sigh, as though Cynthia didn’t relish the idea of expending any more energy finding her charge.

‘Will you send Cora home when you see her?’ she said, turning on the smile again. Always engaging but never quite engaged herself, Mary thought.

Della looked at her watch, a thin, gold bracelet on her sturdy, freckled arm.

‘I’m going to get my lads in now.’ She cupped her hands to her mouth and roared their names.

Like greyhounds, the twins darted out of the building site towards their mother.

Four other boys followed, their pudding-bowl haircuts flying as they ran. Aoife and Ellen bounced out from behind the trees, chanting something about winning and first the worst, second the best.

‘You didn’t win,’ one of the boys said to the girls as they drew close. ‘The game ended when my mam called us for lunch. No winner.’ He planted his feet, arms folded.

‘No, we win, you never found us!’ Ellen said, blonde ponytail silver-white in the sun.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Della said, circling her arms around her boys, ‘the hiders and the seekers are going home.’

Mary craned her neck, looking for Lily and Cora, but they hadn’t come out yet.

‘Hey, where’s Gavin?’ one of the twins asked.