“But you’ve made a few changes upstairs,” Jane says. It’s not a question, and I wonder what else Amy has told her.

I haven’t said anything yet, and Mum is looking anxious, so I say, “We stripped the wallpaper in my room. And we might change the doors.”

Mum gives me a funny look. “I don’t think so, Tom. The doors are fine.” But I’m watching Jane.

The tiniest grin tickles the corner of her mouth before she says, “We never did get ’round to the upstairs. Well, I tell a lie. We decorated our room.”

She winks at Mum, and they share a laugh that sounds so fake that it sits in the air for a few awkward seconds too long. Amy said her dad decorated her room. Now Jane is saying he didn’t.

“You’ll have to come over when it’s all done,” Mum says.

“I’d like that.”

“They should come for dinner,” I say.

Mum looks terrified because that’s a lot bigger than boiling a kettle, but I’ve suddenly had an idea. If Amy’s family do have secrets, they’re more likely to be found where they are buried.

I might not be able to get Chris or Will to talk, but Jay won’t take silence for an answer. Chris won’t be able to just wander off and stare at the TV. And Will…

“We should do it on a Saturday,” I say, “when Aaron’s here. I think he and Amy’s brother would get along.”

My brain is working so fast that my mouth can’t keep up. But this is perfect.

I was so desperate to get back into Amy’s house that I ignored the obvious. We take the Pearces out of their comfort zone. We force them to make a mistake. And, even if they don’t, I could learn something.

This isn’t what Jane expected. I could tell by her face that she enjoyed catching me by surprise. If she was the one who left the message, this was her attempt to finalize it. But I’m not as weak as she thinks. Neither of us are, even if Mum is struggling to say anything, now that I’ve invited a bunch of semi-strangers over for dinner.

“That would be lovely,” Jane says, finishing her tea in one gulp and standing up.

One–nothing to me.

“We’ll let you know,” I say.

Mum adds, “Yes, we’ll…it will be lovely.”

When Jane’s gone, Mum turns to me and says, “What was that?”

“I’m just being nice. It’s called returning the favor.”

“So are you going to cook?”

“If you want me to.”

Mum smiles because we both know that’s a terrible idea, and she’ll want to show off her skills.