In just a few weeks, he had lost a lot of weight. Most of the time he was in his room. She had tried to talk to him, to support him, but he was closed off, his only escape the hours of video games. Chris had had a little more success and for that she was truly grateful. They’d both reassured him that the trial would come to nothing. Joshua himself had continually denied that he’d ever do anything like that to a woman.

And the witness?

Claire pushed the thought from her mind as she drove home that afternoon. It was almost five o’clock. Lucy had been a complete lifesaver especially as it was now the school holidays. Both Chris and Claire’s parents had rallied and babysat in the mornings until Lucy arrived in the afternoons. Jamie, unaware, had adored seeing so much of his grandparents.

Claire parked the car in the driveway and turned the engine off and Joshua had already headed inside. But instead of grabbing her things and following him, she sat in the driver’s seat, reluctant to leave the brief refuge of the car. She opened the window a few centimetres and breathed in the fresh air. She noticed now that it had been a beautiful summer’s day. Above she could see an endless basin of cloudless sky and she imagined some ethereal higher power watching over her.

Suddenly, she realised that she didn’t want to go into the house, not just yet. She needed just a few more moments of escapism where she didn’t have to answer any questions or find the energy to deal with an exuberant Jamie. Stepping out of the car, she walked down her driveway, messaging Lucy from her phone as she went, telling her she’d be back in an hour. Claire didn’t know where she was going; all she knew was that she would walk until she felt ready to go home.

*

Claire had ended up in one of the little coffee shops in Castlefield. It was almost closing time and fairly quiet. She had ordered a pot of tea and sat at a small table at the back of the coffee shop. There was only one other table occupied, a twenty-something girl wearing headphones and trying to look at her phone and computer screen simultaneously.

Claire was staring into her cup when she heard the little bell at the door go but didn’t bother to look up. It was only when she heard a voice ordering four scones to take away that she realised it was Linda. Claire kept her head down hoping Linda wouldn’t notice her but then she heard her call out her name.

‘Claire, hi!’ greeted Linda walking over to the table. ‘How are you?’

Claire dutifully stood up and the two women embraced.

‘I’m fine – you?’ said Claire hoping to deflect attention on to Linda.