‘Sorry. I just… I thought I’d found a safe place with Olivia’s dad Ryan, but it turns out that he blames Wren for his daughter’s suicide.’ She sighed. ‘Can you believe that? Now he’s harassing me to forgive him. Well, fuck him.’

Mark let her talk. He went into the kitchen and brought back a cup of tea, which he sat on the dining-room table. There was a drawing that Charlotte had done, just a scribble of color, but it made Vanessa smile. ‘Nice drawing.’

‘Actually, that’s me,’ he said proudly. ‘Ty’s is already on the fridge. He drew him and Wren. Nearly lost my shit at that, it was brutal.’ He paused. ‘Ness?’

‘Mmm?’

‘You were right to leave me. I haven’t admitted it to myself before but you were. I hated you for a long time, but you were just doing what was best for our boys and I should have understood that. I don’t know how you’re even friends with me.’

‘Well, we’re not at the friends stage just yet, but we are parents to a beautiful little boy. Speaking of, I’d better get home. Thanks for the tea, and the talk.’

When she got home the door to the spare room was already closed, so she crept down to Ty’s room with the intention of kissing his little face. He was still awake, staring at the ceiling.

‘Honey, what are you doing awake?’

‘I just wanted to make sure that you were coming back to me.’

It broke her heart. She took hold of his hand. ‘Baby, I will always come back to you.’ He smiled and she kissed his cheek, then left the room.

She whispered, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you’ covered a multitude of sins. I love you because you’re mine. I love you because you’re beautiful. I love you because you’re my son. The list was endless. I love you, I’m sorry we fought. I love you – something she’d never say to Wren again.

When she was heading to her bedroom, it occurred to Vanessa that if Wren didn’t know Olivia was suicidal, then her close friend might. She had come round to Vanessa’s house with Olivia one day. Lisa something. Lisa Peterson. A new plan falling into place, she drifted off to sleep.

28

Vanessa had sworn that she would never go to Wren’s school. This was the place where Wren had hung out with his girlfriend, his best friends, took classes and played soccer. There were just too many memories.

She pulled into the parking lot and headed to the main building. She went up to the receptionist’s desk and waited.

‘What can I do for you?’ asked the ancient lady behind the counter.

‘Hi, I’m wondering if you wouldn’t mind paging a student for me. Her name is Lisa Peterson.’

‘And you are?’