‘Allan seemed to have a bee in his bonnet last night too.’ Tom shakes his head. ‘Haven’t seen him hit the bottle like last night in a long time,’ he says with a sideways glance at me. Does he know? My stomach drops, but there is no way he could be aware of what he is about to find. As his eyes study me, I see the black of Allan’s dinner jacket a few feet in front of us at the base of the cliffs. He has landed closer to the base than I had imagined. But then I hadn’t had to use much force. In fact, thinking about it, hardly any at all.

‘Christ.’ Tom grabs my arm. ‘Sorry, don’t look, Joan.’ But it is too late. The sight of my husband broken on the rocks will stay with me forever.

He takes his jumper from around his shoulders, bends to his knees and gently covers his friend’s head and shoulders pausing briefly. I didn’t think I had any tears left, but the devastation on Tom’s face as he rises and turns to me breaks me in two and I double-over in pain.

74. Diana

74

Diana

5 August 1962, 7.15 a.m.

‘Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, dormez-vous, dormez-vous?’ Diana sang, thinking she should change the words to make the song especially for Daddy. She and Mr Hoskine had searched the whole garden but there was no sign of her father. She tugged Mr Hoskine’s hand and asked, ‘Should we help check the beach?’

‘Can’t hurt.’ Mr Hoskine continued humming as they walked to the gate onto the coastal path. She hoped that today the Venns wouldn’t be around and she would be able to spend time with Daddy and Mummy and maybe Uncle Tom. The other guests would begin to leave today although tomorrow was the bank holiday. Mrs Hoskine said rain was forecast so today would be a wonderful day for swimming and some beach cricket. Maybe it would be good if a few of the guests did stay for that. It was always more fun with lots of people playing.

A bird hopped onto the path just before they were about to walk down the steps. Diana smiled. ‘Morning, Mr Magpie.’ It tilted its head and gave her a good look before it flew away. Below on the beach she could see Jacob, the fisherman, with a policeman. ‘What’s happening, Mr Hoskine?’

He frowned as they reached the bottom step. Jacob and the policeman walked up to Mummy who was in Uncle Tom’s arms. Diana squinted. The policeman bent down to something behind them. Mummy was shaking her head. Diana watched the policeman. Had someone had an accident? The policeman pulled Uncle Tom’s jumper off what he was looking at. She froze for a moment then yelled, ‘Daddy.’