She reached for her phone to check the time, knowing that it would be difficult to get back off to sleep now. It was still fully dark but she was startled to learn that it was gone seven o’clock in the morning. Dawn wasn’t until eight o’clock but the false sense of security given to her by the shadows set her mind going, and she knew that she’d have to get up. A strong coffee and some eggs would set her up for the day; she could make Millie some, too. At nearly four months, Lizzie had tried eggs. Most of it had ended up on the floor but, mixed with lots of butter, she’d loved it. Mushed-up local black pudding was next to try. Current advice was to wean at six months, but Lizzie was a hungry, healthy baby who’d weaned early.

Kelly flopped back onto the bed and read her messages. Her phone had gone mental during the night and there were several from Johnny.

We need to talk.

For God’s sake.

About the crash. Another one read. This got her interest. They were inextricably linked now in a way that she hadn’t foreseen. He could access her at any time about Lizzie, and to chat about joint childcare, but now he had another excuse: the crash, and she didn’t know how she felt about that. He’d been up late. She noticed that the text was sent at two a.m. But in the early hours, she’d ignored it, thinking it could wait. Had he been drunk? Johnny wasn’t the type to lose control after a drink. It was an important point, because so many people she knew let their hair down and became outrageous on booze. Not Johnny. She wondered if he’d always been like that. No one is perfect, she reminded herself. From the text, she got the impression that he’d been a bit tipsy.

It was good working beside you today