‘My flat was only a two minute-walk away so I went home and went to bed. But I couldn’t sleep because I was too wired and I felt like I should have made sure Rose got home safely. I knew she was with Lee and that, but still. So, I got up and went back to the party. This was about an hour later, maybe four in the morning.

‘And that’s when I saw him. He was coming down the stairs. I saw his boating shoes first and then I saw him tucking his shirt in as if he’d been for a piss, and laughing with two guys I didn’t recognise. I went up to him and asked him where Rose was. He seemed surprised to see me. He told me Rose had gone home ages ago and I believed him. It’s only when Rose told me what had really happened a few months later…’

June 2018

46

Whether it was because she’d managed to get a few hours’ sleep or because she could no longer tolerate being at home, Claire had got up, got dressed and gone into Manchester one morning in early June. It had been the right thing to do. She lost herself for a few hours in the streets of the city, window-shopping, stopping to look at the street performers, and occasionally people-watching.

She had messaged Julia to let her know she was in town if she wanted to meet for a coffee and surprisingly Julia had messaged back to meet at two o’clock. As soon as Julia saw Claire, Julia wrapped her in her arms as if she was a child. It briefly occurred to her that it should be Chris holding her, but Claire had stood silently, clinging to Julia, surrendering herself to the comfort. It was all Claire had needed to feel that everything would be all right, and she had to hold back the tears.

And she’d felt better then – better than she had in weeks, in fact. Just because Joshua knew the main perpetrator. Just because he’d been caught with a picture of a naked girl on his phone. Just because he knew Rose. None of these things meant he was a rapist and despite all the connections, Claire knew it was all just a misunderstanding. And over cappuccinos and skinny lattes, Julia had smiled and reassured her. It was only towards the end of their conversation when they were both getting ready to leave, that Julia said what she did.

‘You know, Claire,’ she said, picking up her handbag and walking towards the door, ‘with everything that’s going on with your family, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to think about taking a more permanent break from work.’

‘Permanent break? What do you mean?’ replied Claire walking through the doorway as Julia held it open for her. The café was noisy and Claire wondered if she had misheard.