April checked the crumpled cupcake wrapper in her hand. ‘Who wouldn’t want to live above a cake shop?’ she said. ‘And it wouldn’t be such a trek to the group meetings, or to see you. Unless you think I’d be a pain …’

‘Well, there is that,’ Tara said before coming over to give her a hug. ‘It would be lovely to have you near. You’re as much a support to me as I am to you, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You haven’t seen it yet, and you might want to think about your commute to work. You’d have to cross the river, which means tunnel or bridge tolls every day.’

‘That might not be an issue for much longer,’ replied April. ‘I’ve been looking for another job. I may not work in the same office or even the same building as Bree, but I can’t avoid her completely, and I need to if I’m going to come to terms with what happened.’

‘Would you like a viewing?’

It was the first time Tara had seen April smile since she arrived and, as she took her up to the flat, she hoped her initial excitement wasn’t about to be extinguished. It was fair to say the place wasn’t in the best of shape. There were ghostly imprints on the lavender walls where pictures had hung, bright cream patches on the carpet where furniture had been removed, darker patches where the pile had been worn down, and what pieces of furniture remained were in disrepair.

‘I know I talk about missed opportunities, but Mike and I were happy here,’ Tara admitted as she picked up a discarded coat hanger. ‘I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.’ When April didn’t respond, she asked, ‘What do you think?

‘This could be the start of it,’ April said, her eyes catching a spark as she looked past the mess, the murk, and the memories. ‘My new life.’

‘And it comes partly furnished,’ Tara said with a note of apology.

‘Some of the furniture Jason and I bought is in storage, everything except the bed,’ April explained. ‘I’ve often wondered if I should throw it all away, but I don’t know. I can imagine some pieces here.’ She bit her lip. ‘I could make it work.’

‘Is that a yes?’ asked Tara.

‘Would you mind if I gave the walls a coat of paint?’

‘Not a chance,’ Tara said. ‘Iain and I will do all of that and lay new carpets too, but you can choose the colour scheme if you want.’

‘Deal,’ April said. She placed her hand on her chest. ‘This is the first time I’ve had something to look forward to in ages – twelve months to be exact.’

‘Well, that was easy,’ said Tara. ‘It’s good to know I can stop worrying about one of my friends.’

‘The other being Faith?’