While Grady and Mac pulled out chairs and joined Rea and Daisy at the kitchen table, Laurel yanked her head out of the past and busied herself making hot chocolate and coffee. Then she found the seat left available for her was between Daisy and Grady, who were discussing Art December, the village art month, as they pored over a Google map, though Laurel wasn’t sure how the two things were connected.

Mac cleared his throat and addressed Laurel and Daisy, his expression remote and tone neutral. ‘Thanks again for rescuing us last night. I’ve come to mention that I have to report what happened. There’s a chance the police will contact you.’

‘The police?’ Daisy muttered, dropping into teen mode with a whiff of sullen scorn. ‘For a pantsing?’

Laurel couldn’t let this go. ‘“Pantsing” is a fun name for a horrible thing – a sexual assault,’ she put in quietly. ‘I think Mr Cassidy’s right to report it.’ She caught Mac’s expression of shocked alarm and suddenly felt more powerful. Yeah, mate, the truth is sometimes uncomfortable to hear.

Grady rubbed his jaw. ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’

Mac’s Adam’s apple bobbed before he went on quietly. ‘Some students like to get back at teachers they hold something against. That’s what I think happened. Those lads knew me, my car and where I live. By the time we got home, the phones and car keys had been dropped through my letterbox.’ He forged on. ‘I’ll be presenting the incident to the police as an outrageous prank. We weren’t permanently deprived of our property and the car wasn’t damaged. Also, I think I recognised one of the lads and most of the time he’s making an effort with his life.’

Daisy’s expression shifted slightly, as if his viewpoint was becoming more acceptable.

Rea joined in. ‘They should be grateful you’re taking that attitude, Mac.’

He shrugged and smiled. ‘Some kids deserve a break now and then. I’m hoping—’ he paused and turned the smile on Daisy ‘—that Daisy might be equally considerate towards me.’

Daisy’s soft eyebrows curled in confusion as she gazed at him.

He smiled. ‘I expect it was a great temptation to tell your friends—’

‘Oh!’ Enlightenment dawned on Daisy’s soft, young features. She grinned. ‘Auntie Laurel asked me not to spread what happened, so I didn’t.’

Surprise flitted over Mac’s face and he was left with little choice but to meet Laurel’s gaze. ‘Thank you very much.’