Unbelievable, Naomi thought, as Harmony rooted in her pocket for a lighter. She can barely wait to get outside.

Naomi watched Morgan’s face crumple. Her mum had let her down yet again.

‘Harmony . . .’ Naomi said, making one last effort to keep the family together. ‘Morgan’s an amazing, gutsy young woman. But she’s going to need her mum there for the big stuff. You can visit any time you like – maybe we could pop up to Scotland some weekends.’

Harmony zipped up her coat, her silence deafening as she ignored the sentiment.

‘It’s late,’ she said eventually. ‘I’d better be off.’ Taking her daughter in a hug, she parted to kiss her forehead. ‘Take care, hen. I’ll be in touch.’

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

‘How are you doing?’

The question came from Naomi as she sat on Morgan’s bed in the hotel. Morgan had lain there for most of the day, not having the energy or the motivation to get up. She had a new home in London, and a new school awaiting her. She wasn’t nervous. If anything, she could barely wait. As for her mum . . . a week had passed since her appearance, and an occasional WhatsApp message was as much as Harmony could manage for now. Morgan was ready to move on from her mother, but she couldn’t leave without speaking to Dawn. She couldn’t move forward in life until she did.

Nighbrook village was crawling with police, and reporters were having a field day. From what Dawn had said online, she couldn’t walk down the street without being accosted by a reporter and asked for a quote. But Morgan had to see her again, if only to find out where this left them both.

She realised Naomi was staring, waiting for her response.

‘I’m fine,’ Morgan sighed, snuggling further beneath her hotel duvet. ‘You don’t need to keep asking.’

She couldn’t begin to imagine how Naomi must be feeling after almost killing Joel. Shock had a funny way of affecting people and the ripple effect of Lloyd’s death had spread far and wide. She’d half-expected to hear about Joel’s family, but nobody had stepped forward to acknowledge him in the press.

‘But you’re not fine, are you?’ Naomi was watching her intently. ‘I’ve been talking to Reverend Humphries over the phone. I didn’t want to say anything in case he said no, but . . .’ A smile spread across her face. ‘Seems that Dawn has been just as miserable as you.’

‘He’s said yes? I can see her?’ Morgan said hopefully, the mattress bouncing as she sat upright. Given they were witnesses in the same case, they had been advised by police to keep apart.

‘She’s on her way.’ Naomi bent to pick up some chocolate wrappers from the floor. ‘Give your room a tidy, eh? It stinks of pizza in here.’