‘I know. I had a little time away …’ Sharon managed. She knew it would seem odd that she was here. She was invited for every gathering via text message, daily at first, but it had dropped back to once a week on a Monday. She had read the latest invite last night, and it had been the only thing that had cut through her daze. When they had got back from the hospital she had readied Jamie’s school uniform, made his lunch and shrugged off his questions about if she was all right. She wasn’t all right. She was on auto-pilot, trying to work out how she was going to tell her twelve-year-old son that his dad was gone. His hero. It had made her feel physically sick every time she had tried to form the words and in the end she couldn’t do it. She would give him just one more day of normality. A Monday back at school with his mates after half-term. One more day to talk excitedly in class about nothing and to be told off for his troubles, to play football at lunch and then try and hide that he had scuffed his new school shoes when he got home. One more day. But Sharon had been left waiting for him in a silent, empty house. Coming here had somehow made sense. These people were the closest she would find to anyone who might have an understanding of what she was going through, but, more than that, she just couldn’t face being alone.

‘Of course. I’m just so glad that you realise that this group is here for you whenever you need it.’ Julia tilted her head to provide another reminder of why Sharon had stopped coming here. Julia’s whole demeanour was condescending. She liked to say things that she thought made her sound wise and caring but her faux sympathy achieved the opposite. It was too late now. Julia closed the door behind her. Sharon was in.

‘The group will be delighted to see you!’ Julia said. Sharon followed her down the hall, all the rooms they passed looking like they were set up for a glossy magazine shoot. Julia was an interior designer, her home a constantly changing showcase of what she was capable of, and, Sharon was convinced, another reason she had insisted on hosting these get-togethers.