‘So get me a dog.’

Tara’s body tensed, or was it her heart hardening? ‘No, Molly. It’s too much effort.’

‘Obviously!’

When Molly tugged her hand away, Tara let her go. ‘I really don’t have time for this,’ she said, rising to her feet. ‘I don’t want to hear another thing about a flipping dog.’

‘Fine, I won’t say anything to you – ever – again!’ Molly called back as her mum left the room.

Tara stood on the landing shaking, already regretting losing her temper. This wasn’t like Molly, and her sullenness was a symptom of a problem Tara was only beginning to grasp. It was a period of adjustment for all of them and they had made allowances for Lily but not Molly. That had to change.

She inhaled deeply to shift the weight against her chest but it refused to move. If she couldn’t negotiate the feelings of a ten-year-old, what chance would she stand with Faith?

31

Cold and bright, the day was a stark contrast to the last time April had visited Pickering’s Pasture. It was hard to believe she had been that broken woman sobbing in a deserted car park with the horn blaring. At the time, April thought that final blow had knocked her down for good, but she had been wrong. She had survived and come back stronger, which was fortunate because she was going to need all her strength today.

There was no doubt that Faith would be angry, but the question was who would feel the force of that anger the most. As April considered the difficult conversation ahead, Dexter whined in sympathy. He was impatient to leave the relative warmth of the car, but April needed more time to brace herself.

She had arranged to meet Tara ten minutes early to ensure that neither of them faced Faith alone, but her friend was already five minutes late. She checked her phone, but there was no message and, as April glanced up, she spied Faith’s white Range Rover entering the car park.

April was about to put her phone away when a message flashed up.

So sorry cant make it can u manage without me? X

‘Don’t do this to me, Tara,’ April said out loud, keeping her head down so that Faith wouldn’t see the horror on her face.

The shadow of the Range Rover passed over April as she continued to stare at her phone, trapped by indecision. Faith displayed no such hesitation, and when she tapped on the window, April jumped. Faith’s bright yellow rain jacket dazzled in the sunshine, making April squint as she offered a weak smile.