‘Come on,’ said Izzy, turning to Meredith. ‘I told you there was something going on. You only have to see the way he looks at Hannah when he thinks no one is looking at him and you,’ she turned to Hannah, ‘can’t take your eyes off him either. We’ve all had bets as to what’s going on in that little cottage of yours.’

Hannah tried to keep her face bland. Their timing was terrible and all she could do was be honest. ‘I really don’t want to talk about it,’ she said stiffly.

Meredith smiled, oblivious to the fractured pain in her voice. ‘Don’t worry, dear. Izzy is teasing you. Jason and Fliss are oblivious, although I think Adrienne has her suspicions.’ Hannah closed her eyes. Of course Adrienne did. She seemed to have the sight or something.

Izzy, however, had noticed Hannah’s discomfort and said brightly. ‘Oh, look, isn’t that sweet. They’ve tied balloons to Niamh’s chair. It’s her birthday tomorrow.’

Grateful for the change in direction of the conversation, Hannah looked along the table at the metallic golden balloons bobbing around the chair. All the family were gathered around the girl, including Conor. Hannah slid her eyes away quickly before he spotted her, instead focusing on the growing pile of presents in front of Niamh as various guests detoured to visit her. The excitement was evident in her bobbing up and down and beaming at everyone as she earnestly thanked them all.

‘Isn’t that lovely,’ said Meredith. ‘She’s such a happy, helpful little soul. I can’t wait to have grandchildren. Such a little poppet and so grown-up for her age.’

‘She’s going to be twelve,’ observed Alan. ‘If she’s anything like my girls, twelve going on eighteen already.’

‘Really?’ said Izzy. ‘Gosh I thought she was younger than that because she’s so small. Twelve.’

Twelve. Why did that number niggle at Hannah’s brain? Niamh was small because she’d had difficult start in life. Conor had said so, she remembered it quite clearly. Something to do with Murphy’s fence. Hannah felt as if she were swimming towards something hidden in the mist. Her brain insisted there was something there but she couldn’t quite grasp it. Murphy had put the fence up when Niamh was born.

Twelve years ago.

Throughout the meal she was distracted and then, just as coffee was being served with the most delicious hand-made chocolates, it popped into place. The last piece of the jigsaw. Hannah dropped her chocolate as she narrowed her eyes and then unearthed her phone from her bag.

Aidan picked up on the first ring.

‘Hannah what can I do for you? Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.’