Penelope smiled up at her. ‘I promise I’ll finish my tea first. Some chamomile?’

‘I’ll bring it right away.’

Penelope rested her hand on her stomach. ‘Sometimes I want to scream, Get this thing out of me!’

‘I remember.’

She passed me an ultrasound image. ‘At least it’s starting to feel real.’

The waitress returned. Penelope touched her Venus and Vulcan pendant. Vulcan had been thrown away by his mother Juno because he was small and ugly. Vulcan, who Caleb wore on his pendant, eventually forgave Juno. ‘I wore this for Caleb. I keep thinking I should have done more to help him. Fought harder, you know? After the fire, I went mad, really. I heard what people said about Caleb. I got confused. He couldn’t have done it. Then… I don’t know. Other people were so sure… I was so sad. I met this guy who helped me forget things… I’m sorry I spoke to Sadie Riley. I thought she’d leave me alone afterwards.’

I sipped my tea. It was pretty grim. No caffeine. ‘Sadie Riley doesn’t go away.’

Penelope flushed. ‘The thing is, I believe in Caleb. I know him. He pushed me clear of a branch that day. He saved me. I’ll tell that to the court, too.’

My son the hero. Exactly what the court needed to hear. ‘I know him, too…’

For a moment, Penelope looked lost. Then she pulled a small file of printed paper from her tote bag. ‘There are things you probably haven’t seen.’

It was an email, dated a week after the fire.

Hi Penelope

Me again. You’ll be sick of me by now. I rode past your aunt’s place. Don’t worry. All anyone saw was a boy in a baseball hat. No hair, no piercings, no black. I even wore jeans. I know what you’re thinking. How mundane. I wanted to see you. I need to see you. I have to know you’re okay. Please believe I didn’t do this.

Caleb

Another email had been sent the next day,

Hi Penelope

It’s not stalking to send 2 emails in 2 days, is it? I need to know you’re okay. I know you aren’t. I heard about your parents. I want to say I’m sorry. Isn’t that what people say? I need you to know I didn’t do this. I need to hear you say you know.

Caleb

They only confirmed what I knew. Caleb would not have hurt this girl. But I, I could have throttled her. ‘You didn’t give these to the investigators?’

‘They’re personal.’ She flushed even redder. ‘I’ll give them to… To whoever, now. You don’t have to… like… forgive me. I was upset. The last thing I said to my parents was…’ She broke off.

I rested my hand on hers and nodded quietly, knowing she needed to continue.