‘She used to come here for lessons, my darling. She played with you and Poppy.’

‘She’s my best friend,’ Poppy puts in, helping herself and Sorrel to more mashed potato.

‘Oh.’ Sorrel’s face clears, she nods. ‘Okay.’

Eve catches Eric’s eye across the table, he gives a little shrug. She nods and smiles at Poppy who high-fives her sister.

‘I’m glad we’re able to do something that makes Poppy happy for once,’ she murmurs to Eric as they clear the table later. ‘It’s been incredibly tough for her.’

He doesn’t reply but he seldom does these days; she takes his silence as agreement and texts Melly later. Her acceptance comes back swiftly.

Grace

‘I don’t have to go,’ Martin whispers, though they’re outside and no one can hear. ‘There will be other sabbaticals, they come up all the time.’

They’ve been over this; he wants her blessing. If this is a game he’s playing, she’s fed up with it.

‘Of course you have to go. Go,’ Grace tells him.

‘I haven’t actually signed anything.’

‘You gave them your word.’

‘I guess the money will be useful.’

‘Useful?’ Grace stares at him. ‘It’ll be more than we’ve ever had.’

‘So take a few months off, you could write. You’ve always wanted to, we can afford it now.’ Martin smiles at her, the old melting smile. ‘Or better still, change your mind and come with me.’ He reaches to touch her hand but she tucks it under her arm. It’s cold out here on Eve’s veranda, away from listening ears. ‘You know the children would love it.’

‘If you need my permission to go, you’ve got it.’

‘That’s not what I meant. I don’t want to spend a year without you.’

‘We’re staying put, you know that.’

They look down at the playground below the veranda; the bright colours look garish in the weak March sunshine. The door of the little house has come off its hinges and someone has broken a window.

‘Will you tell the kids?’ he asks hopefully.

‘It’s your sabbatical, you do it.’

‘So I’m not forgiven?’

‘Come on, you two.’ Melissa calls through the door. ‘Teatime.’

There are seven candles on the cake. Sorrel sits in the chair at the top of the table, a paper hat on her head, a little crown of flimsy red tissue paper. Forensics kept the tiara, Eve didn’t want it back. Sorrel is smiling, Noah’s head resting on her lap; Charley is on one side, Poppy the other. Izzy, next to Poppy. Charley has Venus on her lap.

Eric distributes tea and sits down next to Blake who passes him a piece of cake.

‘Thanks for your help,’ Eric says. ‘Nice work.’

Blake’s cheeks redden. He takes an enormous bite of cake.

‘What help?’ Martin asks.