Setting aside the image of the doting husband Faith had kept alive, April made a start at deconstructing what she had been told. ‘Faith complained his company was worthless when he died. She said it was because she didn’t know how to run it without him, but that wasn’t the whole truth, was it?’

‘It was worthless because he wanted it to appear worthless. Like I said, he was a careful planner.’

‘He was going to divorce Faith too?’

‘I wasn’t speaking to Dad that much before he died, but I saw enough to pick up the signs. He was getting ready to dump her, no doubt about it.’

‘Was there someone else?’

‘That wasn’t Dad’s style. He preferred to stay squeaky clean,’ she said. She bit her lip. ‘Faith claims she didn’t become involved with Dad until after his divorce, and I believe her, but they had met. Mum remembers her from a holiday long before there was any hint Dad wanted a divorce. He kept Faith dangling while he prepared the groundwork for shafting Mum.’

‘Do you think Faith realised history was about to repeat itself?’

‘It could be that she’s living in denial, or maybe it’s us she wants to fool,’ Ella said, with a shrug. ‘All I know is that it’s me who has to deal with the messes my dad left behind. I’m guessing you’re aware I have a legal interest in the house, but I swear the only reason Dad put it in the will was to wind both of us up. It’s a heavy burden sometimes because, as Faith has probably told you, Mum is bitter about losing the house, but I do my best to make both of them happy. I love Faith and her funny ways, but lately she’s been bloody difficult to like. Someone needs to talk sense into her before she gets into more trouble.’

‘That someone would be me then,’ April said, wishing Tara would hurry up.

‘I’m worried about her, April. We all know she has a temper, and if this goes to court, I don’t think the jury will see her in her best light.’

‘I’ll see what I can do.’

When Ella pulled her into a hug, April shouldn’t have been surprised. As with Derek, Faith’s stepdaughter wasn’t anything like April had been led to believe. She would have liked to continue their conversation, but Ella had to go and April had to stay.

She was about to return to her car when Ella’s receding footsteps found an echo. Another figure appeared on the driveway. Faith opened the gate.

‘I thought I heard voices,’ she said, leaning out but not stepping onto the pavement. She glanced down the road at Ella’s retreating form but made no comment.

April locked her car with a thud that reverberated through her body. ‘How are you?’ she asked.