And Robin found tears coming to his eyes. And suddenly the room felt like it was closing in on him. He had to get out of the church. He didn’t care what anyone else would think. He just had to leave.

So he did, pushing past some people he didn’t know and opening the door as softly as he could.

Outside he burst into tears. He didn’t really know why. And then he thought—they were moving on even though their children were lost. They were managing it, even though it was difficult.

Did he have to move on?

Was the only reason he was still fighting for her because it was less painful than being faced with the prospect of finally letting go?

Chapter Twenty-Four

With the whole town in the church, Robin’s walk back to The Hamlet was uneventful and lonely. He went through the doors to find the pub was very much as he left it. The same barman was behind the bar, and the same man was sitting at the window table, finishing an obviously fresh pint.

Robin ordered a Coke and then whispered to the barman, “Who is that man by the window?” If the whole town was at the vigil for the Standedge Five, then this man was the odd one out. Why was he not with everyone else?

Robin wasn’t prepared for the answer, though. The barman looked to the man then back at Robin. “That’s Ethan Pack, Pru Pack’s father.”

Robin’s eyes widened and he turned to look at the man. He was wrapped up in a raincoat, even though it wasn’t raining outside and it was plenty warm in The Hamlet. He had a thick beard, and hair that was jutting out at odd angles. There was a newspaper on the table next to him, but he seemed to have no interest in it, just content with drinking. The sight of him just made Robin feel sad.

“What’s he drinking?” Robin said.

Thirty seconds later, Robin placed a fresh Marsden Ale in front of Ethan Pack. Ethan Pack looked up. His eyes showed no life. “I saw you were running a little low.”

“Thank you, stranger,” he mumbled.

“Robin Ferringham. Can I sit?” And he sat when Pack waved his approval.

“Robin, huh?” He drained his pint—over half—and started on the fresh one. “You passing through?”

“You could say that,” Robin said, and Ethan shrugged. Subtlety wasn’t going to be necessary for this conversation. Ethan was drunk. “I couldn’t help noticing that you weren’t at the church? The vigil for the Standedge Five?”

“What’s that to anyone?” Pack said.

“Because...of your daughter. She was one of them, right? One of the Five?”