‘Well, thank you for the glowing appraisal; however, things have changed. It’s not how you remember it, Anna. I’m not the person you remember, either.’ A sadness swept across Muriel’s face.

The statement unnerved Anna. She’d tended to assume everything in the village had remained how it was at the time she’d left. That her mother was the same as the day she left her behind. But her visit had shed an uncertain light on Muriel’s health and well-being, and now Anna wondered what other differences there were – ones she hadn’t had the opportunity to find out about yet. The fact her mother and Auntie Tina were no longer best friends was shocking enough, but what if the other villagers had turned against Muriel too? Anna had to prepare for the possibility.

Anna brushed away Muriel’s words with a hand. ‘Nonsense. Right, shall we walk? It seems a shame to waste this lovely sunshine, and as you’ve been cooped up here for days, I think you could do with a hefty exposure of vitamin D.’ Anna rose from the sofa and smiled encouragingly at her mum. Muriel didn’t look at all convinced. ‘Mum?’

‘I’m scared, Anna.’ Muriel wrung her hands together. ‘What if we see him?’

Anna took a moment to consider it. ‘Then we’ll know better what we’re dealing with.’

Muriel visibly inhaled and then stood. ‘As long as you’re by my side, I guess he can’t do anything.’

‘Mum, he could be wheelchair-bound for all we know. You could be worrying over nothing – we have no idea what effect all those years in prison may have had on him or his health.’

‘Yes, maybe you’re right – it must’ve taken its toll on him. I have to face this fear head on, not hide away from it.’

‘Exactly. It’s not like you to shy away from anything. You always fought for what you believed in; you were always strong. No reason why you shouldn’t be that person now.’

Muriel put her arm around Anna. ‘Thank you, my darling girl. I know I didn’t often tell you, but you were everything to me. You still are. I may not have made the right choices, or good decisions, as you were growing up. But what I did, I did because I loved you and wanted to protect you. You know that, don’t you?’

‘Of course, Mum. Of course.’ Anna ignored the niggling sensation creeping up the back of her neck, and with her mum in tow, left the house to walk to the village hall.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

2019

Lizzie

Lizzie woke up early, the sun streaming through the gap in the curtains the likely cause. She got up, filled the basin in the bathroom, and swilled cold water over her face. An attempt to wash the guilt away: she’d gone too far yesterday. She smacked the palms of her hands against the white china of the sink. ‘Stupid, dumb-ass move that was, Lizzie!’ she told her reflection.

It could’ve been worse.