April’s hands were splayed over the keyboard and one finger sought out the letter S. ‘Can I ask you something, Sara?’

‘Sure,’ she said, drawing closer. Her hand came to rest on a stack of print-outs piled up on the corner of April’s desk. On top of the pile was a white stone.

‘How well did you know Jason?’

When Sara’s fingertips sought out the curves of the love token, April’s pulse throbbed against her ears.

‘I knew him well enough to know not to be left at the bar whenever he ordered a round of shots,’ Sara said, recalling one of their notorious nights out.

‘He did pay you back, didn’t he?’

‘With interest,’ Sara said as she spun the stone 360 degrees. ‘What’s this about, April? Is there something particular you’re after?’

April held her friend’s gaze. ‘I sometimes wonder how well I knew him, that’s all. There are definite gaps.’

‘I’m no expert on grief, but maybe now that you can’t make new memories with Jason, you want to hear ones you haven’t heard before from other people.’

When Sara glanced down at the stone, April’s heart skipped a beat, but there was no flicker of recognition on her friend’s face. Sara was oblivious to the object’s meaning.

‘Yeah, something like that,’ April agreed, resting her back against her chair and allowing her shoulders to relax.

‘Have you talked to any of his mates? What about Callum? I’m sure he could tell a story or two, and Bree worked with Jason.’

‘No,’ April said, rejecting the idea with a shake of the head. It was possible that the pair had tales to tell, but Callum and his wife Bree had been Jason’s friends more than hers and would never break his confidence. They would think they were protecting her. ‘We’ve let our friendship drift and besides, going out with them was always a couples thing.’ Forcing her tone to lighten, she added, ‘I don’t think it would look good if I suggested a threesome!’

‘Never say never,’ Sara said. ‘Not that I’d know. There’s only one person interested in these boobs.’

‘He is beautiful,’ April said, glancing over at the baby in Georgie’s arms. She was tempted to take a closer look, no longer fearing the prospect of finding a reflection of Jason staring back at her. How awful was she to think that Sara would betray her like that?

But Jason had betrayed her, April reminded herself. And he hadn’t done it alone.

‘Do you want a hold?’ Sara asked. She had that proud mother expression when she added, ‘He’s quite cute when you get used to him.’

‘I’d love to but …’

‘You don’t have to explain,’ Sara said. ‘And if you ever need to talk, I’m always at the end of the phone.’