Tara shared a look with April, but neither replied. And what was there to say? Nick was going all out to impress his new landlady.

‘I’m so glad to see you both,’ Faith continued. ‘We haven’t had a proper catch-up in ages and I didn’t stay long enough at the last meeting to listen to everyone’s updates. I want to hear how you two are doing. April, tell me everything that’s happened between you and Bree.’

‘I said what needed to be said,’ April explained.

‘Oh, this sounds good. Go on.’

As April retold her story, she helped Tara clear away the detritus Nick had left behind until the black granite countertops shone.

‘And what happens now?’ asked Faith. ‘Do you need more from her?’

‘She sent me a message the other day. Another apology and a suggestion we could be friends again. I wasn’t going to dignify it with a response, but with Jason’s anniversary coming up, I thought I’d warn her to keep away from his grave, just in case she was tempted.’

Faith leant forward. ‘And will you go to the cemetery?’

‘I don’t know,’ April said as she stood in the middle of the kitchen wringing a tea towel. ‘I try so hard to stay angry with him, but it’s not easy. If he were alive and I’d found out about Bree, I imagine at this stage we’d be talking about a reconciliation. Is it bad that I still love him?’

‘There are no rules for something like this,’ Tara said softly. ‘Go with how you feel, even if how you feel changes by the day or by the hour.’

April’s eyes glistened. It was possible she was about to crumble, but Tara didn’t think so. Handing her friend a stack of plates from the plate warmer, there was no crash of crockery onto the porcelain tiles. ‘Take these over and have a seat,’ she said. ‘Everything’s pretty much ready.’

It took a few trips to bring the food to the table, but once it was done, Tara sank down onto the bench and mopped the sweat from her brow with a napkin.

‘You really didn’t have to,’ Faith said as she refilled the glass Tara had drained.

Tara laughed. ‘Now you tell me.’

Faith drove her mad at times, but her attitude made a refreshing change to most people she knew. If Faith didn’t want to do something, she didn’t do it. Tara had to keep reminding herself of that.

‘It could have been worse,’ Tara continued. ‘We could have arrived and found nothing but ingredients. I hope Nick’s cooking tastes as good as it smells.’

‘I can vouch that it does,’ Faith said confidently. She could see Tara was about to ask a follow-up question and quickly added, ‘Tell me your news. Have you all settled in yet?’