He made a scornful noise. ‘Poison Amie? Mac went out with her for a while. I couldn’t stand her.’

Here was her opportunity to create a plausible explanation. She lifted her gaze. ‘Mac going out with Amie was the problem. Well—’ She tried to pick out events to suit what she was prepared to let him know. ‘It began with Mac and I having a spat.’

Grady’s brow dropped down. ‘I don’t remember that.’

She shrugged. ‘I probably didn’t tell you. He’s your brother.’

He nodded. ‘We’ve always been close. I’ve really only got him and his family because our parents have gone now. Dad nine years ago with a heart attack and then Mum crossed the road without looking about a year later. Hit by a car.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said softly, sadness at his lack of family worming its way into her heart. She’d known, through her regular updates from Rea, but it didn’t stop her aching at his bleak expression.

He managed a smile. ‘Go on with your story.’

She collected her thoughts. ‘The village put a float into Bettsbrough’s carnival and I was a mermaid. Mac was a merman.’

Grady’s eyes crinkled in amusement. ‘I’d forgotten that! Mac was pissed to have to wear a tail. Said it was like wearing a skirt.’

She smiled politely. Her own gripe had been the bikini top in the shape of two shells. It had felt as if she’d been picked out for her bustiness – exploited, really – but she’d been too young and unsure to demand a less revealing costume or a different role. ‘We didn’t really get on. I could hardly believe you were brothers. Mac was a stinging nettle and you a dock leaf.’ She moved on with her tale. ‘On carnival day, we were supposed to be having a photo together but Mac had moved away from the float with his mates. I was sent to hurry him up and arrived in time to hear him say, “Better go. I’ve got to have my photo taken with a pair of tits. Nice tits, though.” I lost my temper and said, “You should worry. I have to have my pic taken with a dick – and not a nice one.” His mates roared with laughter and he swore at me.’

Grady winced. ‘Not Mac’s finest hour,’ he said gruffly.

‘Yeah, well. I don’t know what version of that his girlfriend Amie heard but she began to bully me on the bus to school. You weren’t around, as you went to a different school. She was a year older than me and though she was small she made up for it with nastiness. She followed me off the bus and ripped out one of my earrings.’ She fingered the long-healed lobe, remembering the blood and the fiery burn of torn flesh.