Tomorrow she would head home to Hixton. She would spend the night in her old family home, sleeping in her childhood bedroom for the first time in years.

She wouldn’t bolt and she was determined she wouldn’t have a panic attack. Instead she would face her fears head on.

She could do this.

39

They arrived in Hixton a little after noon on the Saturday, plenty of time before the party, which was due to start at seven.

Hannah had insisted on driving and Liam guessed it was a distraction for her. As they approached the village where she had grown up, she had fallen silent, the colour draining from her face as she turned into the close where her mother and stepfather still lived.

The driveway she parked on belonged to a modest semi-detached house. Nondescript, but well cared for, the picket fence freshly painted and the hanging baskets either side of the front door filled with colourful flowers. Here he hoped to learn more about the real Hannah. The one behind the barriers he was struggling to fully break down.

‘You okay?’ he asked as she turned off the ignition. She actually looked like she might throw up. When he had left her flat on Monday, it had been touch and go if he would make this weekend. Unlike Hannah, he was glad he was here.

When she nodded, he took her clammy hand, giving it a squeeze of encouragement. ‘It’s just one day. This time tomorrow we’ll be on our way back to Norfolk.’

She smiled weakly. ‘I’m already looking forward to it.’

Tank picked that moment to poke his head between the seats, probably more out of curiosity as to why they had stopped but were still sat in the car. Seeming to pick up on Hannah’s nerves, he stuck up his front paw, prodding at her shoulder, and when she turned to acknowledge him, licked at her face.

Liam had been relieved Hannah’s mum had been okay with the dog coming, unsure what he would have done with him if she had refused. It had also been good for Hannah to have him along for the weekend. Tank was a distraction and would also serve as the perfect time-out if things got a little too much for her.

The front door opened and he recognised the woman who was stood on the front step beaming at them as Jane Lawrence, Hannah’s mother.

‘At last, here they are.’

She watched them get out, the smile slipping slightly when she saw Tank. Liam wasn’t sure what sort of dog she was expecting. Probably something smaller and daintier from the look on her face.

Oblivious to the slight and simply excited by new places, smells and people, Tank’s tail was thumping hard. He would soon win her over.