Billy’d left a note for Tina. Given her an open invitation to visit him sometime if she wanted. Tina knew she’d take him up on it. It was the least he deserved. He’d performed a selfless act for which Tina would never be able to fully repay him. Certainly one the Fishers couldn’t.

Even though Billy couldn’t attend, Lizzie had. She and Dom had travelled down especially and were staying at Bulleigh Barton B&B again.

‘Thank you for coming,’ Tina said as they walked to the grave in the churchyard, to Jonie’s final resting place.

Lizzie smiled. ‘Thank you for asking us.’

After the coffin was lowered and handfuls of earth were scattered over the shiny white lid, they began walking back to the gate.

‘It’s lovely to see you and Dom looking so happy,’ Tina said. ‘I’m glad some good came from this.’

‘So are we. It’s been a long journey. I’m relieved it’s over,’ Lizzie said. ‘Sorry,’ she said quickly, ‘I didn’t mean … that was so insensitive.’

‘It’s fine, Lizzie. Please don’t. No need to walk on eggshells. This is closure for me.’ She smiled, patting Lizzie’s arm. But Lizzie caught the slight twitch of Tina’s mouth as she uttered those words, saw the flicker in her eyes. Was this closure really enough?

‘Thank you. We’re actually talking about starting a family.’ Lizzie looked up to Dom.

‘Oh, that’s fantastic!’ Tina said.

‘It is, isn’t it?’ Dom beamed.

‘And what about you and Billy? Are you going to keep in contact?’ Tina said.

‘Yes, that’s the plan. I want to keep an eye on him, check in regularly to make sure he’s coping with life on the outside,’ Lizzie said. She didn’t add how she also wanted to make sure he didn’t do anything that could land him back in prison. They’d had a heart-to-heart about Reverend Farnley after the revelations he’d been the one to abuse her as a child – and Lizzie got the distinct impression Billy didn’t think the man had suffered enough.

They reached the gate, and for a moment they stood in silence.

‘Come back and see us sometime?’ Tina said. Her eyes glistened with tears.

‘Of course.’

They hugged, and Lizzie took the opportunity to slip the small USB stick inside Tina’s pocket before they each went their separate ways.

The church bells had stopped ringing.

‘It’s over,’ Muriel said.

‘Is it?’ Anna drained the last of the coffee from her mug and placed it into the sink.

‘Thank you for coming here today, Anna. I couldn’t bear to be alone, knowing what was going on just up the road.’

‘No, it’s not the easiest of days, is it?’ Anna said. ‘But it’s closure. For some, anyway.’

Muriel nodded, then said brightly: ‘Your dad sends his love, by the way. He was here yesterday, popped in before he left for home.’

‘Where is home for him now?’

‘Some place in Somerset. He’s been living there for years.’

‘I thought you said he’d gone to Scotland?’