‘I’m just thinking,’ she said finally and that was the truth. She was wondering if she could go on living in the house she’d shared with Dennis, the place that held so many memories of her son.

When she’d walked away from the prison, she’d let a little piece of herself die when accepting that her relationship with her son was over. Veronica knew in her bones that she would never see him again. A switch had been thrown and there was no turning back. What kind of mother was she? What kind of son was he?

Standing in the living room, Veronica acknowledged that from that moment on she would be alone. No sister, niece or friend could ever fill the space left by her son and husband. She would always have a huge empty space in her heart, and what she realised was that being in Balsham would only act as a constant reminder.

‘I’m going to sell the house,’ Veronica said turning to pick up the cat, which was rubbing his body against her ankles. ‘And the shop,’ she added as an after-thought. ‘There is nothing left for me here except memories. I don’t want to live surrounded by ghosts. I won’t do it.’ She stroked the cat and kissed his head.

‘Very sensible. You should move closer to me,’ Francesca said, huffing as she dragged a suitcase across the room.

‘No,’ Veronica said steadily. ‘I am going to go live by the sea.’

‘We’re not that far from the coast,’ Francesca said defensively.

‘I know but I have friends round here. I don’t want to leave everything behind.’

‘You’ve got nothing left to leave behind,’ Francesca said without thinking.

Veronica stared at her sister with disbelief. Even by her standards, that was callous. ‘I’ll put the house and the business on the market in the New Year and then decide where I want to go. Andrew had one thing right: Dennis did spend too much time in that bloody shop,’ she said angrily.

‘Oh, I didn’t mean it like that.’ Francesca half apologised.

‘You never do,’ Veronica sighed.

‘Don’t you think you should get the funeral over and done with first?’ Francesca said carefully, broaching the subject for the first time.

‘I don’t even know when they will release him,’ Veronica said miserably.

‘I’m sure they’ll let you know soon enough,’ Francesca said cheerily. ‘Have you decided if you want a burial or cremation?’

‘Not really. I don’t see that it makes any difference. He’s gone.’

‘Well, personally, I think you should consider cremation. Then you can take him with you wherever you go. Especially since you’re considering moving.’

‘I’m not considering it, I’ve made my mind up,’ Veronica said forcefully.

‘There you are then.’ Francesca hooked her handbag over her shoulder.