“No. When I asked him earlier, he declined. I guess he took the rest of the pills when I left and felt better. He seemed doped up when he arrived here.”

“Doped up on painkillers and whiskey. Do you think he would have struggled to get back?”

“No. He would have made it. Slowly. I mean . . . I don’t really know . . . it’s possible he was feeling stronger than I imagined. But . . .”

He hesitated and looked over the water. Diane stared at him, brows raised.

“What? You don’t think he somehow crossed the river and went with Faye do you?”

“No. Not with Faye. She left before I did. Also, I can’t see how he could have got to the other side. I mean, look at it,” he gestured to the river. “But, well, he was acting rather strangely.”

“Strangely?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean?”

Geoffrey hesitated, took his cap off and scratched his head, looking across the river.

“He . . . he yelled to Faye to tell Clare that her father loves her.”

Diane swallowed.

“What? He’s . . . he’s . . . why would he? What did he mean? I mean, you—”

“That’s what I asked him.”

“What did he say?” she asked, her voice quiet now.

“He said Clare was his daughter.”

He turned to look at Diane. She glanced away, lip wedged between her teeth.

“What . . . what did you do? Say to him?”

“I asked him how.”

“Oh, God,” said Diane under her breath.

Geoffrey took a step closer to her. “Is it true? Do you know?”

“No! God no, it’s not true. Derek had been drinking and—” said Diane, placing her hand on Geoffrey’s forearm.

“But you knew? About him and Michelle? What did you know? That they were lovers after we were married?”

“Geoffrey—”

“Around the time Clare was conceived?”

“No! God, Geoffrey. It wasn’t then. Clare is your daughter. There is no question of that. Michelle . . . when you were fighting . . . about you starting your business. She . . . it was a short, stupid moment. She hated herself for it. Clare is your daughter. Look at her, Geoffrey. There’s no doubt of that. How can you doubt it?”

He hung his head.

“Did Faye hear? Where was she?”

“No. She’d already left to get back to Clare.”

The noise of river hung between them.

“What did you do to Derek, Geoffrey? Where is he?”

He pulled his cap back on his head. “Nothing. I did nothing. What could I do? He was acting like an idiot. I left. I needed to get help to Clare. That’s all that mattered.”

He looked up and down the river before turning and walking back towards the truck where Simon was waiting. Diane followed.

“Geoffrey! Wait!”

He stopped. She placed her hand on his arm again.

“It’s not true,” she said. “Derek is delusional. He’s not himself. After the accident . . . it’s not true. You have to believe me.”

He nodded.