Marlow:And where is this?

Janie:In the village hall in Beaulieu. I had to call a friend over to babysit – Anna. She can tell you. I can get you her phone number if you need it.

Marlow:That’s no problem for now, thank you. So you went to yoga last night?

Janie:(nods) Yes.

Marlow:What time was this?

Janie:Seven p.m. For two hours. Then I went home, as Anna will tell you.

Marlow:Anna tried to get hold of you last night, didn’t she? She said she needed to call your husband because you weren’t answering your phone.

Janie:I didn’t hear it. Like I said, I was in my class and – please. Are we done?

Marlow:(pauses) Yes, we’re done, Janie. Thank you for your time this afternoon.

Janie:Okay. Thanks.

Marlow:Oh, actually, one more thing before you go. You never did say if you and your husband have been having any problems?

Chapter Twelve

Seven weeks before the fire

Janie placed the casserole in the centre of the dining table and sat down in her usual seat, next to Lottie and opposite Ella. She watched her eldest daughter frown as she lifted the lid of the pot. ‘Is that chicken?’

‘It is. Why are you turning your nose up? You like chicken.’

‘I thought you said we could have takeaway on a Friday night.’

‘Well, Ella, you’ve watched me making this for the last hour, so surely by now you’ve realised we weren’t having a takeaway.’

‘Don’t be like that, honey,’ Harry said, playfully elbowing Ella. ‘Your mum’s gone to a lot of trouble making this for us. It looks lovely.’ He smiled at his wife.

She smiled back, then turned to Lottie. ‘Tell me about your day, darling? How was netball?’

‘Okay. We lost. Twenty to one.’

‘Oh dear,’ Harry laughed. ‘That’s quite a difference.’

Lottie shrugged as Janie spooned casserole onto her plate.

‘And what about you, Ell bell, how was your day?’ he asked.

‘Fine.’

‘That’s it? Just fine?’ he said.

Janie watched Ella as she picked up her fork and swirled her meal around the plate.

‘You’re not hungry?’ Janie asked.

‘Not really.’

‘Is something wrong?’

‘The train was packed tonight,’ Harry said, seeming completely oblivious to the fact that his daughter wasn’t touching her food.

Janie kept her eyes on Ella.

‘I had to stand until I got to Basingstoke. Bloody nightmare! I really shouldn’t go up on a Friday again.’