‘They both said the same thing, almost word for word. I still don’t know why he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, why his airbag didn’t go off and why he was depressed.’

‘I’m sorry you didn’t get what you wanted, Ness.’

‘Oh, I’ll find the answers somehow, I know I will.’

‘You are so brave.’

‘Ryan, you’re strong – you lost a child too.’

‘You know, I kinda blame Wren for Olivia’s death.’ Vanessa’s heart just about stopped.

‘What did you just say?’ She wheeled around, thunder in her face, eyes snapping like a live current ran through them. ‘What the fuck did you just say?’

‘I didn’t mean it like that, Ness,’ he backpedaled.

‘Then what did you mean? Explain yourself.’ She slammed the wine glass onto the bench, the stem breaking, wine dripping down the counter and onto the floor, looking a lot like blood.

His face was flushed, whether from the wine or embarrassment, she didn’t know. ‘Just if she’d never met Wren, all this might not have happened. Something clearly went on between them, something bad, we just haven’t talked about it yet.’

‘I can’t believe you’re blaming Wren. How could you?’ She was so angry that she could barely spit her words out.

‘Well, she might still be here otherwise. Maybe they broke up and that’s why she did what she did.’

‘Well, thank you very much for sharing how you really feel, you fuck wit.’ She grabbed her bag and went to storm out, but he grabbed her arm. ‘Get your hand off me,’ she screamed, ‘or I’ll call the police!’

He let go and she shot forward, out of the house and into her car where she sat, stunned. Then she burst into tears. This whole time they had been trying to figure out what was wrong with their kids and he had been thinking that about her Wren. Comforting her but thinking that he was to blame. His place had been her only sanctuary, now that was fucked. She would never speak to him again for what he said. Never. He was dead to her. Finally, she felt strong enough to drive home.

After having no luck with Justin and Wade and then the bullshit with Ryan, she was spent. Now she had to go home and pretend that her world wasn’t shattered all over again.

Billy jumped on her as soon as she came through the door. ‘I got a call from Joan today. Apparently, you broke into her house and verbally interrogated her son.’

‘For starters, I didn’t break in – the front door was unlocked, I let myself in. Secondly, he lied to me. And Wade was lying to me too. But why? What are they hiding?’

‘Ness, it’s time to stop now. I’m getting calls from angry parents and you’re turning yourself inside and out with knots and worry.’

Fuck, she was having a bad day. She couldn’t win, no matter what she did.