She called in to see her dad first. While she sat on the couch, she noticed that he looked… happy and not just to see her, but in general. Vanessa was glad. Sure, they’d had their issues in the past, but she didn’t want him to be sad and alone for the rest of his life. ‘How are you, Dad? Really?’

‘I’m OK, I have my good and bad days. I miss your mom a lot, but it’s getting a little easier each day.’

Vanessa had a momentary pang of longing for her mom.

‘What brings you over here?’ her dad asked, bringing her mind back into the room. ‘Not that I’m not happy to see you.’

‘Well, I have news, big news. I’m divorced from Mark! You’re the person that I wanted to tell first.’

‘Oh, honey! That’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you. ’Bout bloody time. Is that man of yours going to make an honest woman of you now?’ He got up from the couch and gave her a hug, just the way he did when she was a child, a bear hug.

‘As soon as I set a date!’ she said, her voice rising higher than usual. She couldn’t believe how her life was turning out. She had everything she always wanted.

‘So, how are Maggie and Charlotte settling in?’

‘About that.’

‘Please don’t tell me that she went back to Mark.’ Fear making her tense up, her shoulders rising, her lips stretching taunt.

‘No, no, of course not. But I have moved them into the house. I was doing renovations and we discovered asbestos in the walls of the guesthouse. Can’t have them living in that. So they sleep in the two spare rooms.’ He looked a little sheepish as he said it.

Vanessa was taken aback and was silent for a long time. ‘Dad, are you and Maggie a thing?’

‘I can understand why you might think that, but no. I am like a father figure to them both, a good friend. Besides, I like the company. The house was too big and lonely without your mom. I have no interest in romance, Ness, and neither does Maggie.’

‘Has Mark found her yet?’

‘No. I’ve been keeping them hidden for a while. They stay inside and I do all the shopping. She’s not ready yet.’

‘I started all of this, I pushed her to go.’

‘No, you didn’t. She told me that you encouraged her to leave. Having Billy help her was the best thing you could have ever done. She’s finally starting to heal.’

She smiled at her dad. ‘Where is Maggie?’

‘She’s taking a nap with Charlotte. She was up most of the night. Charlotte isn’t feeling the best.’

‘Sorry to hear that, Dad. Say hi for me when Maggie wakes up.’