Grady ‘accidentally’ used his elbow to activate the door locks so Mac couldn’t get out until Grady had finished asking questions. ‘So you’re going to take it to the police, right?’

Mac sighed. ‘I suppose I’ll have to, but he has an apprenticeship now and a chance to make something of himself. I’m reluctant to get him in trouble, despite what he did. They returned what they took so it was pretty much a prank.’

‘You softy.’ When his brother got all understanding over the antics of tricky teenagers it was as if someone had reached into Grady’s chest and squeezed his heart – maybe because Mac had been a tricky teenager himself.

Mac grunted. ‘Teachers do try to make things better for kids, even if kids don’t realise or accept it. I’m going to put it to the police as a prank.’

‘OK.’ Shrugging, Grady was about to unlock the vehicle, but paused. ‘Daisy Grove’s at your school. This story’s going to be everywhere.’ Young Daisy was great but he’d seen her glee as she’d taken in Mac’s discomfiture.

Mac tugged his beanie lower, over his eyes. ‘It won’t need Daisy for that to happen. The perpetrators took photos and videos because kids these days just don’t seem to be able to help themselves. Now, can you unlock the door so I can go home and get warm?’

Grady released the button and they both jumped out. Mac beeped open his car and got in to start the engine, letting the wipers clear the whitening windshield.

Grady shivered as he watched Mac try and coax the car off the soggy grass. Twigs snapped and the wheels spun but that was about it. When Mac turned to look at him through the car window, Grady nodded and returned to his truck to get his tow rope. Sometimes he and Mac didn’t need words. Mac needed towing back onto the road, so Grady would do it.

Chapter Two

A slow start to a Sunday over croissants and coffee was a pleasure, but Laurel felt odd because this Sunday began in The Nookery with her sister and her niece instead of the blue terraced house in Park Royal with Alex.

She must have sighed because Rea asked, ‘How are you doing? Is it strange being here?’ peering over an issue of Homes & Gardens, the cover tastefully illustrated with swags of festive greenery. The magazine’s title neatly summarised where Rea felt comfortable – so long as it was her home and her garden. Laurel had tactfully established that Rea hadn’t set foot past the bottom of The Nookery’s drive since early summer and had spent a couple of hours last night reading how to help a loved one with agoraphobia. She was determined to encourage Rea all she could.