She stood up, wobbling slightly, and went around the lounge room, looking at the framed photos. There was one of Olivia and her mom. ‘She was gorgeous, your wife. Olivia looks just like her.’

‘Yes, she was beautiful and yes, Olivia does – did – take after her mother. You’re beautiful too.’ he said boldly. She pretended not to hear the compliment. Grieving people often said things that they didn’t mean and it meant nothing; the ramblings of a drunk man, high on grief. Vanessa picked up a photo of Wren and Olivia. His arms slung around her, laughing into the camera. She didn’t expect to see it, so she was caught off guard, sucking in a breath before beginning to cry.

Ryan was at her side in an instant. ‘I’m so sorry, Vanessa. I should have put that one away just in case you came over.’

‘I just wasn’t expecting to see it is all. He looks so happy.’ She was aware that Ryan was standing very close to her. She thought of Billy. Her wonderful, savior, kind-hearted, not-a-mean-bone-in-his-body Billy, and she moved away. Grief made people do silly things, but she would not do that.

‘I should go. My son Ty will be home soon. I’m trying… it’s not going so well yet. He looks so much like Wren.’

‘Can you come back tomorrow?’ Ryan almost begged.

Vanessa wondered if it was the best idea, but the man had no one else. He hadn’t any friends to lean on, and they were thrown together by circumstance. She owed it to Wren to help Olivia’s father.

‘Sure, I’ll come back.’

He hugged her goodbye. ‘See you tomorrow.’

As she got into the car, she realized that except for seeing Wren’s photo and that little hiccup, that she hadn’t cried for three hours. It was a huge step forward for her.

But it didn’t last long. She pulled her car into the driveway and walked up to the front door.

‘Mom!’ yelled Ty. She felt deflated as soon as she walked into the house. She used one arm to hug him, then gently pushed him away. She saw Maggie’s disapproving look and just knew that she was going to tell Billy all about it. She figured Billy must have asked Maggie to keep an eye on her and report back. She seemed to watch her a lot, especially when she thought Vanessa wasn’t looking. In one way it was sweet, in another it pissed her off. She was a grown woman and she’d do what she pleased when she pleased. She was grateful as hell to Maggie, but she was still grieving for Wren and wanted to find out why Wren had been so depressed, even before Olivia had committed suicide. She would have to ask Ryan if he knew anything, but now was not the time.