‘Brian is right,’ Viv said levelly, once Brian had pulled the door to. ‘I should have thought of it myself. We’ve got heaps of time – I’ll have to do the odd online consult, but Brian had so many unused days, it seemed silly not to take them. And of course, it would be lovely to have you, Es, you know that.’

‘Viv, you showed me pictures. There aren’t enough bedrooms.’

‘Nonsense. The elder two can double up for a few nights.’

‘Viv, no.’

‘Think about it. You could come after Lily’s graduation. There are still cheapish flights to Nice if you shop around. The place is an hour from the airport. We’re hiring a car, but the bumf says there’s a bus to a nearby town that we could scoop you up from. I’ll forward all the details. Call it an extra birthday present, if it makes you feel better. Even if it is just a few days, the break will do you good. Now get some sleep.’ She did a mock glare and blew a kiss before disappearing from the screen.

Esther fell back among the sea of sofa cushions where she had spent the evening. She pictured the dry, sultry heat of southern France – fields of sunflowers and lavender; the world at bay for a little instead of snapping at her heels.

Her eyes were half closed when something flitted across the window. She jolted upright, hugging a cushion. A large bat? An owl? Peering out, she saw nothing but a full yellowy-orange moon casting a gentle glow over the garden. She pressed at her temples, aware of a headache starting.

‘Bed, Esther,’ she growled to herself, straightening the cushions and doing a limping trudge up the stairs.

She was under her duvet when her phone flared with another message.

Hope u got my flowers and had a lovely day. Chris X

Truly not a quitter and all of a sudden it was freaking her out.

I don’t know how you got my address. Please don’t contact me again.

A reply came back at once, and though Esther’s heart cantered for a second, there was no need.

Okay. Sorry. Over and out.

For a moment, Esther liked Chris Mews better than she ever had and it left her with a small bubble of emptiness. It was a relief to turn the light off and feel the weight of the day lift at last. A birthday on one’s own brought pressure, and it was done.

CONGREGATION

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