‘Are you OK?’

‘I should have made him get it checked again or cautioned him about driving too fast. I don’t know. I could have done something …’

‘You don’t have to go on if you don’t want to.’

‘No, I’m fine,’ Faith said, facing front again. ‘Typical of Derek, he had been speeding down the M60 when the accident happened. From CCTV footage, it looks like the ABS failed while he was in the fast lane approaching slow-moving traffic. He clipped a couple of cars as he veered towards the hard shoulder and smashed into a barrier.’

‘I guess he didn’t stand a chance.’

‘But Derek almost did survive. He was halfway out of the car when it went up in flames.’ She had watched the recording, and it was scorched into her memory. ‘It was a miracle there were no other fatalities. I suppose I should be thankful for that, but one fatality was one too many.’ She could feel a familiar anger rise up through her body. ‘It shouldn’t have happened.’

‘Christ, I’m so sorry. I hope you sued the garage for every penny they had.’

Faith didn’t answer. It was none of his business and she had grown tired of crowing about money she no longer had.

‘Something like that has to make you stronger,’ Nick continued awkwardly.

‘All adversity changes us.’

‘And you’ve had more than your fair share,’ Nick replied, taking his eye off the road to scrutinise her face.

Faith found herself laughing. ‘I’ll save my stories about my alcoholic father for another time.’

‘You’re an incredible woman, Faith,’ he said before tearing his gaze from her. When Faith refused to respond, he squirmed in his seat. ‘What I mean is, the whole group is inspiring. However sad the circumstances, it’s been humbling to hear other people’s journeys.’

‘You’ve had a journey of your own.’

‘I suppose I have,’ he said, rubbing his knitted brow. ‘It’s just that I listen to stories like yours, or the others who had families to take care of, and … I don’t know, I feel like I don’t have a right to complain.’

Faith examined him as she might a specimen under a microscope. ‘Oh, the group is going to have a field day with you.’

His features softened. ‘You can’t scare me. They’re a great bunch.’

‘I bet you were expecting a group of wailing weirdos.’

It was Nick’s turn to laugh. ‘Not at all.’

‘Liar,’ she said. ‘I know I was.’

They were approaching Hale Village and, as they passed the hall, Faith noticed the Christmas decorations. ‘Has Justine mentioned the Christmas party to you yet?’ she asked. ‘It’s in a few weeks.’

‘Yes, and I’m fully paid up. I hope you’ll be going.’