‘Yes, pet.’ Her words were measured.

‘I know there isn’t anything any of us can do, but I think perhaps we should arranging a meeting with the other ladies from the book club. It’s just awful news and we should all come together at this time. Don’t you think?’

‘That makes plenty of sense.’ Marion sounded distant and clipped and Amy wondered if she’d said something wrong.

‘Johnny is away in London on a build, so I was thinking of suggesting everyone came here this afternoon. I can nip to the bakers and pick up some cake. What do you think?’

‘OK, pet. You do that. Is there anything I can do to help?’

‘Obviously we need to let everyone know. Perhaps you could make a few of the calls?’

‘Consider it done.’ Marion had gone into organisational mode. ‘What time shall I tell them to come to yours?’

‘Half past three, or as close to that as they can manage. I know it’s short notice.’

‘Don’t you worry about that. They will all be there, I’ll make sure of it.’ And Amy knew she would.

At precisely three twenty-five, there was a knock on Amy’s red front door. She opened it to find Barbara and Marion standing on her doorstep; she gave them a small welcoming smile before letting them in, and led them through to her living room.

One wall was made up of nothing but shelves that were crammed with books. Marion, who had been to the house a number of times before, ran her fingers along the spines of some of the books. She knew Amy was a proper book lover, and not just someone who paid lip service in order to be part of the group for social reasons.

‘Well, I never thought we’d find ourselves having to do this.’ Barbara sat on the worn brown leather sofa and shook her head. ‘I just can’t believe it.’

‘Hello!’ Maggie appeared, carrying a tray that held a teapot and a large plate of cakes. She’d been at Amy’s house for the last hour. As she bent to put it on the coffee table, her purple-rimmed glasses slipped down her nose. ‘They look good, don’t they?’ she said, admiring the cakes while standing upright and pushing her glasses into place.

‘They do,’ Marion agreed, giving Maggie a welcoming hug.

‘How are you?’ Maggie asked, her tone more serious at last.

‘I don’t really know, pet. It’s a shock, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it is.’

Amy sat quietly in the corner, picking at a small hole in her leggings and twirling a strand of her hair round her fingers.

‘You know,’ Marion said, taking a seat next to Barbara, ‘we were at the common yesterday. I was worried it was Kim.’

‘Why?!’ Amy looked horrified.