No. It had nothing to do with waiting to see what it added up to. The actual truth of it was she just wanted to keep Ivy all to herself. To have a friend no one else knew about, something no one else could touch or tarnish.

‘I have to go.’ Nicole dropped the photos and Mandy looked at her with wide eyes.

‘I appreciate your help.’ Nicole stuttered and ran out the door, leaving her fledgling friendship behind.

Friendships were such fragile things.

June, Last Year

Nicky nestled into the couch, legs tucked under, to doodle in her notebook. She scribbled words down, trying to find an idea for her next book that she was sure was somewhere in her mind. She just couldn’t find it. Mark was in the shower. They’d had sex as soon as he’d got home from work, but Nicky had been distracted the whole time. She was still distracted now.

She’d finally read Jane’s manuscript, six embarrassingly long months after her friend had given it to her. And it was good. Really good. She’d sent her a text yesterday to tell her so, two of them actually, but there had been no reply.

Maybe Jane was angry with her, despite the glowing feedback. Nicky couldn’t blame her. With each week that had gone by since Christmas, her shame at being such a bad friend had grown, and her courage to make contact had shrunk.

And with each week that had gone by without Jane calling or texting her either, it was harder to break the silence.

But surely now Nicky had read the manuscript and reached out, her old friend would respond.

She sent another text and waited.

No response.

What if something had happened to Jane? No, Miles would have got in touch if that were so.

Jane wasn’t on any social media. She hated the whole idea of it. So Nicky couldn’t her look her up. But maybe Miles was. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She flipped open her laptop.

A quick search was all it took to find him on Facebook and Nicky sat there, staring at the screen, silent tears falling down her cheeks.

‘Nicky? Is everything okay?’ Mark came up behind her, wrapped in a towel. ‘Oh, Nicky.’ He put his arm round her shoulder.

She couldn’t believe what she saw. There, looking gloriously happy, was a photo of a beaming Jane, barefoot on the sand in tropical Queensland, a flowing wedding dress, standing next to Miles as he planted a kiss on her cheek. It was posted a week ago.

Jane had got married. Without her.

‘It’s okay.’ Mark embraced her tightly.

‘I just … How could she … I don’t understand. I mean, I know we haven’t been close lately, but she’s my best friend.’

At least she was.