Lizzie’s fingers trembled as she dialled Dom’s number. Anticipation of the meeting with her dad, coupled with the fact she’d not been honest with her husband, had caused anxiety and guilt to combine; it was a heady mix.

‘Hey, babe. How’s it going back home?’ she asked, keeping her voice light and breezy.

‘Missing you. Work’s shit. I’m bored. You?’ he rattled off.

Despite his abrupt opening line, Lizzie smiled, her heart lifting at hearing Dom’s deep, smooth voice. ‘Ah, you know. Busy, but missing home,’ she said. Then added quickly, ‘Missing you, of course.’

‘Thanks for remembering me right at the end there.’ He laughed. But Lizzie thought it sounded hollow. He really was upset with her.

‘I love you, stupid. Obviously, I’m missing you – it goes without saying.’

Her statement was met with silence.

‘Is everything okay, Dom?’ Her heart fluttered nervously, an uneasy feeling creeping through her.

She heard a long sigh.

Shit, what’s wrong? What’s happened?

‘Dom?’

‘It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.’

Lizzie let out her breath, but her concern didn’t dissipate. Something in Dom’s voice told her she should worry. She wrestled with the idea of pressing him, versus letting it go for now. If there was something bothering him, it would be better to speak about it face-to-face, not now, while they were a hundred miles apart. And not just prior to the visit from her father. Another pang of guilt hit her. She really should tell Dom about Billy.

‘Are you sure? We can chat if you need to.’ Lizzie swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

‘Really? I’m not sure you can talk to me, can you?’

That was it. Whatever was on his mind was to do with Lizzie, to do with the things she’d been hiding from him. He knew something. But what?

The solicitor’s letter.

Where the fuck had she put it? She’d been in shock when she’d opened it, had only partially read it. She felt sure she’d torn it up and thrown it in the bin. But maybe she hadn’t. Or, he’d somehow retrieved it, read it. In which case, he already knew she’d lied to him – had been lying during all their time together. She had to try and salvage this.

‘I’m not sure what’s up, Dom, but of course I can talk to you. Although, maybe now isn’t the best time. I think we need to talk in person—’

‘Come home, Lizzie. Now. Leave Mapledon and drive home. We can talk tonight.’

Lizzie hesitated. As much as she was desperate to talk to Dom and limit the damage, she had to see this thing through now. Had to meet Billy, find out what he had to say. Then continue to put together the shattered pieces of her childhood. Get to the bottom of whatever happened here thirty years ago.

‘I can’t travel back today, Dom. I really want to speak with you properly – I’ve got some things I have to tell you. But I need to finish up here first. It’s an “I’ve started so I’ll finish” kind of thing I’m afraid. I’m making headway on the story. I just need a bit more time.’