That’s when Fran noticed something on the floor. A little Alice in Wonderland figurine, in three pieces. Was that the noise she’d heard?

‘Did you knock this?’ she asked Zara.

Zara looked offended. ‘Oh, come on, I just woke up. And if I broke something, I wouldn’t leave it there. It was probably Lily.’

Fran picked up the pieces. Zara was right, it was probably Lily. She didn’t feel it was her place to throw it away though and maybe it could be fixed. She lifted a souvenir plate from its stand on the windowsill and laid it flat, then put the figurine pieces safely on top. Beside the plate, the sill was discoloured in two patches – a pair of neat round circles, one larger than the other. As though, perhaps, other souvenirs and knick-knacks had once sat there and been removed. The Alice figurine accounted for one spot, and Fran looked around now to see if something else had fallen, but there was nothing on the floor.

She returned to the task of making coffee, her hand still shaking slightly as she spooned powder into her mug. Nobody could have got into the house. Her eyes travelled over to the back door. The Murphys were careful. Always locking the side gate and the doors, in case Lily got out. So, the door would be locked. Should be locked. Unless someone was in the house, in which case … She stepped forward and reached out to touch the handle. But she couldn’t do it. If the door opened, she’d know. And suddenly, she really didn’t want to know.

‘Where are you going?’ Zara asked. ‘Out for a smoke?’

‘No. Just …’

‘We’ll have one up the chimney,’ Zara decided for both of them. ‘Too dark and spooky out there, with those huge trees at the back.’ She shivered. ‘I got the fright of my life on the way over here, actually. I was just about to turn into the driveway when I almost crashed headfirst into Gavin Bowman. He was leaning against the pillar. Just standing there, for no reason at all. God, he’d be so hot if he wasn’t so sullen. The way he looks at people, with his eyes half closed and that beanie hat he wears. It’s kind of sexy, isn’t it? Doesn’t he remind you of Matt Dillon?’

‘No. Well, maybe a bit but … I don’t know, he gives me the shivers. And not in a nice, Matt Dillon way. Did he say anything?’

‘No. He just stood there, smoking. I kept walking.’

‘He’s probably bored out of his mind. There’s nothing to do in Edenvale, especially in summer.’

‘True. Anyway, soon none of it will matter, because we’ll be gone to Virginia Beach. We’re nearly there now, Fran. Nothing can stop us.’

Fran nodded. Unless you’re pregnant. That would be the end of everything.

29

June 2018

‘MUM, LOOK, AREN’T THEY gorgeous?’ Emily points at a pair of trainers on her tablet. ‘And they’re only €120 which is way cheaper than the Air Jordans I was showing you last week.’