April pushed her plate away and swigged a mouthful of coffee. ‘You’ve known her longer than I have, maybe she expects more of a grilling from you.’

‘And she’d be right,’ Tara confessed. ‘It doesn’t make sense. She wasn’t interested in Nick when he joined, or at least not for herself.’

‘She tried to set him up with me.’

‘You noticed?’

‘Faith wasn’t exactly subtle,’ April admitted. ‘But I don’t think Nick was ever going to be interested in a thirty-year-old hysteric living back home with Mummy and Daddy.’

Tara’s turning thoughts made her insides twist. ‘No one was in the running once he set his sights on Faith and you can’t argue they’re a good match when it comes to expensive tastes. He made sure he left with her number that first time they met. He moved quickly, I’ll give him that.’

‘You make it sound mercenary,’ April said. She wasn’t smiling any more.

‘I do, don’t I?’

‘Now you mention it, he was quite interested in hearing about my financial situation, although he did apologise for prying. He used to be an investment banker.’

‘That might explain it,’ Tara said, but her thoughts refused to settle. ‘And I’m sure I’m overthinking things, but Justine sent me the photos from the party the other day. In the few that included Nick, he had his head down, and he wasn’t in the group photo because he offered to take it. Is he camera shy, or does he have something to hide?’

‘It sounds like you have a dose of my paranoia.’

‘But look where that led you.’ They both fell silent for a moment. ‘Oh, I don’t know, maybe I’m just feeling like this because he’s a fair bit younger than Faith,’ Tara said, searching for a less worrisome explanation for her unease. ‘I know it shouldn’t matter, and if Faith were here and we were talking about you flying off with Nick, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be talking about your eight-year age difference.’

‘But you are worried?’

‘I don’t doubt that Faith can look after herself, but I’d feel better if she wasn’t being evasive. In all the time I’ve known her, she’s never felt it necessary to justify herself to anyone. She doesn’t care who judges her, so why not be open with me?’

‘Could it be guilt?’ asked April. ‘She was devoted to Derek, so she must have mixed emotions right now. She claims to embrace her independence, but what if she’s simply been too scared to give herself to someone else?’