This next part is difficult, so you’ll have to forgive me if it’s not too articulate. Your friendship has always been important to me. Even when my life was rough, and my mother was depressed, I used to believe that everything was all right because Nina Minogue was my pal. If Nina likes me, I’d think, I must be okay. Since I’ve become well known, I’ve been on the lookout for people claiming I’ve changed. In some ways, I have. But these past few weeks have taught me that the one who’s changed most is you. Or perhaps I got you wrong. Perhaps you were always the spoilt little rich girl, and I didn’t see it.

One other thing: I should let you know that Mam has told me everything about my father. Over the years the two of us spent so much time discussing who he might be, I could never have imagined not sharing the news with you. Hopefully, one day, we’ll be able to discuss it, but right now I don’t know when that day will be.

That’s all I’ve got to say. Please don’t try to contact me. I have no interest in talking to you.

Tess

Nina wanted never to read the letter again. Neither was she able to throw it away. She hid it at the back of a drawer. She tried to convince herself that Tess had written it in a moment of fury, yet in her heart she knew the letter was more considered than that. It sounded so formal. So cold. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

It mattered. For three, four hours she lay on the bed. She’d never been so cold. When the phone rang, she didn’t answer. Strangely, she didn’t cry.

She asked herself what would have happened if Fergal hadn’t seen her that afternoon in Rathmines. Would her fling with Julian have fizzled out? Would she have stayed with Tom? Staying with him would have been easy. Easier than this, certainly. But would it have been right? ‘Stop it,’ she said. ‘You can’t turn back now.’

That evening, as the dark gathered around her and sleet rattled against the window, it struck Nina that she was cut off from Kilmitten.

When Julian returned, she didn’t tell him about the letter. She feared he’d urge her to ignore Tess’s instructions, to call and keep on calling, and she didn’t want the pressure. She’d have to deal with it, but not now.