Just looking at Kym made Evie’s heart ache. She couldn’t risk it. Not again. ‘Nothing,’ she said, ‘I have to go. I have to be seen to be making an effort, you know?’

‘Hang on.’ Kym went to the table, rummaged around in her bag, then she pulled out a blue plastic folder, A4, bulging with notes and photocopies. ‘I thought you could maybe have a look at this?’

‘What is it?’

‘Research. Stuff on Elder House. Old stuff, mostly. Have a look, see what you think.’

‘I told you—’

‘Exams. Yes.’ She held the folder out. ‘Come on Evie, you know you want to.’

‘Fine.’ Evie took the folder.

‘And I was thinking we could try the museum tomorrow morning, and don’t say exams again, because I already checked your timetable.’

*

Carolyn was up in the attic, getting organised. They had thought, a couple of years ago, once they were settled in, that they might make more of the roof space; as so many houses in the yard had. When you looked online, some of the conversions were very appealing – and of course Maude’s little attic had been very nicely done. But it wasn’t, Ollie had pointed out more than once, as if they needed another bedroom. They were better off using the space for storage, and they had only got as far as laying hardboard in sections over the beams, to make it easier to stack boxes, and to gain access to the water tank.

She couldn’t recall the last time either Ollie or Evie had been up here, and in a way she was glad, she always enjoyed this bit, she found it soothing, reassuring; creating order out of chaos. She’d get one of them to give her a hand dropping off the bags of unwanted clothes at the charity shop at the weekend.

When she was done, she climbed down the attic ladder and went back into the kitchen, thinking yet again what a pity it was that they had no permanent neighbours, apart from Gina Verrill. She tried to remember what it had been like when they’d first moved into the yard, how it had felt to be making a fresh start, and how they had once upon a time actually got on perfectly well with Gina before all that – fuss. She was washing her hands at the sink, and considering lunch when Evie appeared at the top of the steps.

Carolyn checked the kitchen clock, then wondered what Evie had been doing up at Elder House, visiting Maude, perhaps, which was a kind thought, although there was a time and a place.

‘Hi, Mum.’ She closed the kitchen door carefully.

‘Hello, darling.’ Head down, Evie slid past her, barely looking Carolyn in the eye. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Fine.’

She ran up the stairs.

The bedroom door slammed shut behind her.