‘I was worried when you took off last night. I tried to call—’

‘My phone died.’

Faith’s eyes are back on the car. ‘Got visitors, have we?’

Alice shakes her head, her mind whirring for a way to explain the black Audi on the drive. ‘It’s the gardener.’

‘You’ve taken on a gardener?’ She glances again at the car.

Alice scratches her neck, feeling a rush of guilt for lying. ‘Well, I haven’t actually taken him on yet … he’s just having a look out back so he can give me a quote.’ She grabs her friend’s arm and yanks her inside. ‘Come in for goodness’ sake, you’re letting the cold in.’

Alice leads the way into the kitchen.

‘I’m so sorry again about Mitch—’

‘It’s fine, please don’t worry.’

‘He was disappointed that he didn’t get to meet you properly.’ Faith eases herself onto a stool.

‘Another time, maybe.’ Alice grabs a mug, spoons in some coffee.

‘Wow!’ Faith’s eyes are on the laptop screen. ‘That place looks incredible. It’s just like your sculpture.’

‘I know. Amazing, isn’t it?’ Alice moves to the screen, and they stare – mesmerised. ‘The bloke who bought it owns the place. It’s a hotel, apparently.’

Faith pulls the laptop closer to her. ‘It looks … God, I don’t know how to describe it.’

Alice nods and smiles. ‘Yeah, it really does.’

‘So is this where you got the idea for your sculpture?’

‘I guess so. I must have seen it on TV, or something.’

‘Wow, I’d love to go there.’

‘Mmm, well it’s certainly intriguing.’

Faith looks up, her eyes locking on Alice’s. ‘Maybe we could go together sometime.’

‘Well, as it happens, the owner sent me complementary tickets.’

‘What? Why? Wow!’

‘You forgot when?’

Faith grins. ‘When?’

‘Next weekend.’

‘What?’

Alice laughs.

‘And at Halloween too. Are you going to go?’ She touches Alice’s arm gently. ‘It might do you good to get away. Maybe I could book a room too, come with you?’

‘That would be lovely.’ Alice’s head whirs with the thought of it, wanting to tell Faith about the photo, the strange pull of the place. ‘But what about the shop?’

‘Oh God. I hadn’t thought of that.’

‘Listen, if you fancy going,’ Alice says, turning to pour boiling water into the mug. ‘I’ll cover the shop. In fact, why not take my room. I won’t be using it anyway.’

Faith furrows her forehead, looks back at the screen. ‘That’s far too generous, Alice. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to go?’

Alice shakes her head, deciding it would be too much. ‘I will visit at some point,’ she says, ‘but not right now. Halloween is the busiest time in Whitby. You go, Faith. I’m happy to run the shop.’ The confidence in her voice surprises her. She stirs the coffee, hands it to Faith.