‘I’m sorry for your loss, Vanessa, I really am, but Wade had nothing to do with it.’

‘He was in the car with Justin, who was driving, and Wren, who died. Why can’t he speak to me?’

Phillipa sighed. ‘He has concussion, a broken arm and a fractured wrist. He smashed his head against the side widow and hasn’t really been himself since.’

Why were these two women using injuries to stop their sons from talking to Vanessa?

‘He feels guilty – it could be about Wren.’

You think?

‘Can I talk to him, please?’ Vanessa almost begged.

‘It’s not a good time.’

‘OK, can I come back when he is feeling better?’

‘No. I don’t think that’s a good idea. He… he doesn’t need to remember.’

‘Things don’t add up, Philippa. If it was Wade, wouldn’t you want to know?’

‘Go away, Vanessa,’ she said as she went to shut the door in her face.

Vanessa was shocked. Mild-mannered Phillipa had just told her to go away! Vanessa stuck her foot in between the door and the jamb. ‘Did Joan call you? What did she say?’

Philippa looked down. ‘No,’ she said, clearly lying.

‘If they did nothing wrong, then why can’t I talk to them? What are they hiding?’ She was so frustrated with Joan and Phillipa. What was their problem? ‘Next time I come back, I’m not taking no for an answer.’

Vanessa walked away and drove off without looking back. She was angry and emotional, and the only person who would understand was Ryan. She drove over to his house and rang the doorbell. He answered the door with a glass of red in his hand. She took it from him and drank three healthy gulps.

‘Been one of those days, huh?’

‘You have no idea.’

‘Tell me about it. That’s why you’re here, right? To vent?’

‘Something like that. I just don’t understand. Why can’t I talk to them? It’s making me angry and desperate. I went to the hospital to see Justin, but I didn’t get much out of him, then Joan kicked me out. Same at Phillipa and Wade’s house. I just want to talk to them, see if Wren confided in them.’

‘Maybe they just feel guilty for surviving, Ness.’

‘Maybe, but it won’t stop me.’ She took another sip of the wine, just a little one this time. ‘They must know something,’ she said to herself.

‘Do you need to sit down? You look a little pale.’

‘Maybe just for a minute then I have to go home. Billy will know what I’ve done by now. Fucking small towns.’ She gave a bark of laughter.

27

‘Thanks for listening to me babble, Ryan. I appreciate that I can come here and feel safe. It’s like a haven.’ Vanessa smiled at him. ‘I’d better go before my husband sends out a search party.’ She felt calmer now than when she had arrived. She was sure the red wine and the venting had helped.