‘It won’t,’ April said, surprised that she should be the one required to give the pep talk. It reinforced how self-absorbed she had been lately. She could be a better friend than that, she told herself as she reached for her mouse and closed down her computer. ‘You can do this, Tara.’

‘Can I? I was never cut out to be a mother, and now I’m responsible for two kids. How did that happen?’

‘You’re the most motherly person I know. We all look to you for guidance in the group, me especially.’

‘But isn’t that the point? I’m only six years older than you,’ Tara said. ‘It was Mike who persuaded me to keep the baby and, as much as I love Molly, as much as I want to make Iain and Lily happy, I’ve been wondering lately if I’m in the right life. I don’t know if I can do this.’

‘You might not have chosen to be a mother, or a widow, but it was your choice to set up the support group. You did it because it’s in your nature to take care of other people.’

‘Faith’s worried I’m going to quit.’

‘And are you?’

‘I might need to put a lot more effort into my family than I was anticipating. They have to come first. I definitely won’t be at next week’s meeting, and we’ll have to see after that.’

April closed her eyes. As tempted as she was, she wouldn’t pressurise Tara to stay. ‘Then I should let you go,’ she said at last.

‘But how are you? Were you OK after the Christmas party?’

‘I had a really good time, all things considered,’ April replied. She could happily forget how close she came to making a fool of herself.

‘All things considered?’

‘See what I mean about you being a natural? I’m fine,’ April insisted. ‘You don’t have to worry about me.’

Before Tara could respond, there was the sound of a doorbell in the background and April listened to her friend heaving herself up. The door creaked again. ‘Are you sure you’re OK, April? You haven’t found out anything else about Jason, have you?’

April picked up the heart-shaped stone and weighed it in her hand. ‘All of that’s behind me now,’ she said. Putting her words into action, she opened a drawer and threw the stone to the very back.

‘Well, I’m here if you need me.’

‘No, I’m here if you need me,’ April said. She was about to say goodbye, but Tara must have opened the front door because there was a gasp that sounded like a child’s.

‘Wow, we have stairs!’ came a voice that April presumed was Molly’s.

‘I’ll leave you to it,’ April said, and she could hear the smile in Tara’s voice when they ended the call.