Billy was shaking hands firmly with the men, kissing the women on their cheeks. Even Ty was doing a better job at saying goodbye to the mourners than she was. Mourners, that was a funny word. It didn’t even begin to describe the grief she was feeling. Eventually they were all gone, and it was just the family left. Maggie offered to make tea, probably just to keep her hands busy. Vanessa leaned against the wall and Billy, her dad and Ty sat down at the table. Mark had left early on, obviously feeling out of place. Vanessa had barely eaten or drank in days, but when Maggie suggested food, she almost threw up. She shook her head no.

‘You have to eat, Ness.’ She put her hand on Vanessa’s shoulder. She shrugged it off. She didn’t need her sympathy. She needed them all to piss off and leave her alone to go back to Wren’s room and fall asleep on his bed.

Her dad was making room in the fridge for some of the cooked meals that people had brought with them. Why do people bring food? Was it because they thought the bereaved had forgotten how to cook? Or do they think that their grief is so palpable that they just can’t stand to cook, clean, or do anything but be numb? Well, she was numb, all right, but clarity would come soon. Super laser-focused clarity. She would want – no, demand – answers, but for now all she could think about were those wrong flowers rotting atop her son’s coffin. She gave a little sob and everyone turned to look at her. She wanted to tell them she was fine so they’d stop looking at her, but it was a lie and they knew it. She was not fine.

Her dad went home around eight, Maggie was staying to help with Ty and took the spare room, and Billy put Vanessa to bed, removing her dress and wiping the makeup from her face. She lay awake beside him as he drifted off, snoring lightly beside her. She was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. She knew what she had to do.

She had to find out everything there was to know about Wren’s final two weeks.

24