‘Sleep well?’ Naomi asked, as Connie joined her in the kitchen. A dump of snow had fallen overnight but the kitchen was cosy and warm. Underfloor heating warmed the soles of Naomi’s feet and the smell of freshly cooked pancakes lingered tantalisingly in the air. Ed’s love for an all-American breakfast had rubbed off on her. ‘I’ve got pancakes and maple syrup.’ Naomi didn’t wait for a reply. ‘Fresh cream, or if you’d rather be healthy, berries and seeds to sprinkle on top.’

Connie stretched as she yawned, taking in the feast. ‘You’ve come a long way from Pop-Tarts. And you couldn’t make them without setting the kitchen on fire.’ Tiredness was etched on her face, her blonde hair wild and unbrushed.

‘That only happened once.’ Naomi grinned. ‘And the toaster was faulty.’

‘Worth it for the visit from the firefighter though,’ Connie said, stealing a strawberry from a bowl on the side. ‘I couldn’t believe it when you left him for Ed.’ Her smile faded as she brought up something that had caused numerous arguments between them. ‘Sorry, that was disrespectful. Here I am, in your house, eating your food and slagging your husband off.’ She turned her blue eyes to Naomi in an apologetic gaze. ‘Old habits . . . you know.’

Naomi nodded, pushing a plate of pancakes towards her so she could help herself. ‘I’ll grab you some coffee,’ she said, grateful to turn her back on her sister. The scars from that particular argument had not yet healed. The thing was, she could understand Connie’s concerns. One minute she was dating Seth, a hunky firefighter, and the next she was having an affair with an older married man. She hadn’t wanted to fall for Ed. She’d met him while reporting on one of the most bizarre cases of her career. Ed had been hounded by a troll, receiving vicious letters and emails, while questionable packages made their way to his front door. It wasn’t until Naomi looked into it that she discovered his alleged stalker was, in fact, his wife. For months, Harmony had hounded him on social media, trolling him with threats to kill. Harmony had not taken it kindly when Naomi revealed her identity, particularly when she found out about their fledgling relationship. That was when she turned up, knife in hand. Naomi shook away the memory, which still brought her sleepless nights. Things could have been so much worse.

‘It’s just that . . .’ Connie continued, ‘we’ve never resolved things between us. I mean, I was glad when Ed rang to invite me down, but . . .’ Her nose twitched. It was her tell, which meant she was uncomfortable. Walking on eggshells. No sister should have to feel that way.

‘I know, and I’m sorry,’ Naomi replied. ‘Eat. They’re going cold.’

She watched as Connie piled three pancakes on her plate before smothering them in blueberries and maple syrup.