Justine’s mouth fell open and when she found her voice, it trembled. ‘Thank you, Faith.’

The conversation limped on and it was a relief when Nadiya asked if they should call it a night. It had been impossible to concentrate on anything except Jodie’s sobbing.

‘If ever we needed proof that Tara is not allowed to leave the group, that was it,’ Faith muttered to April as they gathered in the foyer. Nick had gone to fetch Faith’s coat, but had been sidetracked by the group flocking around Jodie. ‘Justine simply can’t manage on her own.’

‘Have you spoken to Tara lately?’ asked April as she watched Nick put an arm around Jodie’s shoulder. He was the first to tempt a smile from her.

‘I’ve been so busy. How about you?’

‘I haven’t told her about my little meltdown yet, but I will. She’s suggested I pop over while I’m off between Christmas and New Year.’

‘Any progress to report?’

April spotted Nick approaching and lowered her voice. ‘I’ve decided I will speak to Bree. It’s time to be brave,’ she said. ‘Don’t you think?’

‘You do whatever it takes to make peace with yourself. Take other people’s feelings out of it.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Here you go, m’lady,’ Nick said, holding out Faith’s coat for her to slip into.

April rummaged in her oversized handbag and took out a neatly-wrapped parcel tied with a shiny red ribbon.

‘What’s this?’ Faith asked. ‘No one told me we were doing Christmas presents.’

‘It’s more of a thank-you,’ April explained. ‘Open it.’

Faith tore the paper to reveal a pair of lambskin gloves not dissimilar to the ones she had ruined disabling April’s car horn.

‘Oh, you sweetheart,’ Faith said, pulling April into a hug.

‘I did try cleaning her last pair, but engine oil is tough to get out,’ Nick said, sounding far more familiar with Faith and her laundry than he should. Had he been told whose car she had been fixing? Had he been told why?

If Faith registered the look of suspicion on April’s face, it didn’t stop her smiling broadly. ‘I’m hoping I won’t need these where I’m going. I’ve booked a holiday for early January,’ she said. ‘I was tempted to make it a Christmas break, but I couldn’t get the time off work. The joys of being indispensable.’

‘Are you going alone?’ April asked.

Before Faith could answer, Justine joined them, and for once, Faith looked pleased to have her interruption.

‘How are we all?’ Justine said, wrapping an arm around April’s waist and ever so subtly turning her towards the door where the last of their fellow members were filing out. ‘Can you believe another year is almost over?’