Laurel’s hands and feet continued the automatic movements necessary to drive carefully over icy puddles at the edges of the lane. Had there been unconscious emphasis on bus, as if to indicate there was something else to do with school that wasn’t OK? She gnawed at the problem as they joined the main road and soon they arrived in the residential area where the school stood, its playing fields to one side of classroom blocks that rose several storeys into the air. She slowed the car, peering past the big white sign that said Sir John Browne Academy. ‘Who painted the school green? And what’s the building next to the science block?’

Daisy looked vague. ‘I always forget you and Mum came here. It’s green so as not to stick out of the landscape so much. Do you mean that building?’ She pointed. ‘It’s a library and a computer suite with a gaming section. Lunchtime geek club. Not my thing.’ Daisy settled her fingers on the door handle and gave the first smile Laurel had seen from her this morning. ‘Laurel, will you be part of Art December and the art wall at the Christmas Fair? It would be, like, vintage. Not just because you’re fam but because you’re an amazing artist.’

Thanks to Grady’s warning, Laurel didn’t feel caught out. Laurel and Rea had talked last night and agreed it was an opportunity for Laurel to share Daisy’s interests, deepening their relationship. ‘Vintage means “good”, right?’ she joked, expansively. ‘If so, then OK.’ It wouldn’t be a hardship to contribute a small canvas. She already had something hanging around that would do. Last year she’d had a commission to paint brothers gazing at each other but it hadn’t been collected. She accepted commissions on a ‘only buy it if you like it basis’. The client had liked it but had lost his job and, with apologies, been unable to buy. She hadn’t yet got around to photographing it to list online.

‘That’s sick,’ Daisy breathed, startling Laurel till she remembered ‘sick’ was akin to ‘awesome’. ‘We’re meeting in The Angel on Wednesday night.’ Beaming now, Daisy opened the door and hopped out into the frosty day. ‘See you later.’ The car door shut with a bang.