‘It can be a bit of a minefield mixing with a bunch of drunks who want to reminisce,’ Tara warned. It was why she and Iain had opted to stay at home with the girls this year. ‘Make sure you have an exit plan in case it gets too much.’

‘Come what may, I’m staying until midnight,’ April said, her expression grim. ‘But don’t worry, I’m driving, so I’ll have a getaway car.’

‘Sounds like you’re on a mission,’ Tara said, then the revelation hit her like a beacon from the lighthouse they were walking towards. ‘Oh, no, April. Has this got something to do with the woman Jason was seeing?’

April hunched her shoulders as if she knew what she was contemplating was wrong, but there was a glint in her eye when she said, ‘It’s Bree’s party, and apparently she wanted me there, so who am I to refuse? I can’t wait to tell her that I know exactly which old acquaintance she’ll be thinking about when they start singing “Auld Lang Syne”.’

‘Are you sure you should be doing this? If you need to talk to Bree, fine, but do it in a controlled environment when you’re both sober. If she’s been drinking, she might say more than you’re prepared to hear.’

‘Or her husband.’

‘She’s married?’

April walked on without replying and they closed the gap on the girls. Molly and Lily had reached the lighthouse and were veering east along the path that followed the curve of the river upstream. Dexter heard their approach and bounded towards Tara. He had been splashing in puddles and his paws left muddy trails across Iain’s jacket.

‘Dexter, get down!’ April shouted. When the dog ignored her, she took a deep breath. ‘Sit!’

The dog backed away and pressed his bottom to the ground.

‘Can it be my turn to hold his lead, please?’ Lily asked.

Before April answered, she turned to Tara, who nodded her approval. ‘As long as you keep tight hold.’

Lily beamed a smile at April and then Tara. ‘Thank you.’

Molly was reluctant to hand over the dog until she realised he would chase after her if she raced ahead. As the two women followed the squeals of laughter, April shaded her eyes with her hand and scanned the horizon where the river curved out of sight. ‘Can we reach Pickering’s Pasture from here?’

‘Not by following the riverbank. The path detours back to Hale to avoid the salt marshes and the farmers’ fields,’ Tara said, though she refused to be sidetracked. ‘April …’

‘I’m not going to change my mind.’

‘In that case I’ll expect a full update from you on New Year’s Day,’ Tara said. ‘In fact, I’ll be opening up the shop for a few hours if you want to come over for a late brunch. I could invite Faith too.’