‘I’m not, Eric. And I’m sorry, but you don’t have the first clue what we even discuss at the meetings, and well, that’s the way us ladies want to keep it. You men have the pub, your golf, your gambling,’ Muriel said, shooting him a knowing look. ‘Don’t think you’ve got that past me, dear.’

Eric shuffled in his chair, his eyes now averted from Muriel’s. ‘Nothing bloody gets past you,’ he mumbled.

‘Language, Eric,’ she scolded. ‘Leave us to our business and I’ll leave you to yours. And don’t worry, we would trust you and the other men to help us if it were required.’

‘Oh, well, don’t do us any favours. We might not want to help just when it suits you.’

‘I’m sure you would do what needed to be done for the good of the community, wouldn’t you?’

‘Yeah, yeah. We always do, don’t we? You might think you run the village, Muriel – you and your cronies – but it’s us men that you all count on. Couldn’t do without us, could you?’

Muriel kissed the top of Eric’s head.

‘No, love. I couldn’t,’ she said.

‘Oh, meant to say – a letter came for you. Was official-looking. I put it on the sideboard.’

Muriel went to the dining room and looked at the white envelope propped up against the silver bowl. She took it and, without opening it, slid it into the bottom drawer between her cardboard box of birthday cards and her address book. She’d deal with it later, when Eric had gone to the pub.

‘Anything important?’ Eric called from the lounge.

‘No.’ She swallowed hard. ‘Just some information I requested a while ago. Ironically something related to our Mapledon Meeting agenda.’

Eric stood as Muriel walked back into the room, and strode forwards, taking both her hands in his. ‘I know I joke about the meetings, about the women only getting together for wine and gossip, but I am aware that’s not all you do. I know you do a lot for this village and it’s a better place for it. I can always rest assured you ladies are keeping things running smoothly, making sure the village kids have a good, safe place to grow up in. Making sure our Bella is safe and secure. I’m only teasing you, you know that, don’t you?’

‘Yes, love. Of course. And, let’s face it, getting intoxicated and gossiping without an agenda is something we leave to our men,’ she said, smiling.

‘Touché.’ He kissed her. ‘And on that note, I’m off to the pub.’

Chapter Forty-Six

2019

Anna

Monday 15th July

So far, Anna had kept her conversation to topics Lizzie seemed happy to talk about – she hadn’t asked many questions. From what she’d spoken of, Lizzie appeared to be in Mapledon purely to see if her dad had returned, and to find out what happened thirty years ago. Much the same reasons Anna had stayed beyond the weekend. But Anna only had Lizzie’s word she hadn’t been in contact with Billy since she’d been taken into care. Only her explanation for why she’d turned up in the village asking questions.