“Oh, stop it, Tess, stop being such a juvenile. He’s falling apart over there. Dad’s supposed to be his friend, not hers.”

“Come on, Bella, she lost her little girl. She lost Ellie.” My voice breaks but Bella’s still scowling.

“Well, she should have been more careful, shouldn’t she? She should never have been driving when it was so icy.”

I gasp and recoil.

Bella is white-faced, her lips pressed together. “It’s what Greg thinks, too. And the boys. Even Max and Lena. Why do you think none of them are here? That’s why she should be at home, trying to sort things out with him, with Greg.”

I can’t believe she’s saying such awful, awful things. God—if Julia heard what she was saying…

“You…you bitch.”

Bella’s shoulders stiffen. “Grow up, Tess. Stop fucking hiding.”

Bella comes into my room that night. I’m half-asleep but sit up as she climbs onto the bed next to me.

“I didn’t mean it,” she says, and I know she’s talking about what she said about Julia earlier.

“I know you didn’t, big sis.”

She leans her head against mine. “It’s so fucking awful. I hate going over there and seeing them in such a state in that empty dump of a house, but I feel bad if I don’t because they—especially Greg—seem so alone. No one else even bothers.”

I bite my lip. She sounds so sad. I should be going with her. I’m being so selfish letting her go on her own.

“And I don’t like the way she’s latched on to Dad.”

I think of Dad putting his hand on Julia’s. “Don’t be daft. They’re friends, that’s all.”

“Wasn’t Dad supposed to be Greg’s friend? Greg doesn’t know about her little visits to Dad. He doesn’t have a clue. That’s not right, is it?”

No, it’s not right. But nothing about this is right.

I walk through the woods, humming a song I heard on the radio that got stuck in my head. We’re into the second week of the Easter holidays and the sun is out. It’s not warm enough for the beach yet, so I’ve pulled on a sweater and come adventuring in the woods, a bag full of snacks and a book on my back. Dad had Julia over again, but after Bella’s comments before, I feel a bit awkward round her now, guilty that they seem to be getting closer while Greg’s over at Dean House on his own.