Matt’s deep voice replied, “This is the legend that is Clive. Come on boy, let’s go. Leave her alone.”

Helen turned with a smile on her face as Matt walked into the kitchen, followed by an extremely pretty girl.

The girl from the shop.

They screeched to a halt and just stood, looking at Helen, whose face had frozen in surprise.

“Hi,” Helen said cheerfully.

Matt looked at his feet, coughed a little, but said nothing.

Helen stepped towards them. “I’m Helen, Matt’s stepmum. We—”

“I’m Diana,” the girl interrupted.

“Beautiful name,” Helen said.

Beautiful face, she thought.

Diana shrugged. “My mother had a thing for the royal family. If I had a brother, he’d be called Charles. Hey, Mills.”

Mills raised a hand in reply. Helen was surprised that they knew each other. Matt’s art college was a half-hour inland while Mills was doing her A-levels at the private school where Hugh taught just outside the village. The same school Helen had attended back in the day.

Mills had finished making the tea. She took one of the mugs in her hand and left the kitchen without another word.

“I’ve just boiled the kettle if you would like some tea?” Helen said to cover Mills’ rudeness.

“We’re going to my room,” Matt said instead. He sloped over to the pantry, grabbed a large bag of crisps and returned to stand next to Diana, who was still staring at Helen, a strange half-smile on her lips. Matt took her hand and they left the room. Helen could hear giggling again and snatches of whispered words, Matt saying something about Helen being “lame” and “awkward”.

Helen’s heart was hammering in her chest and her cheeks burned. She took the remaining mug of tea with a trembling hand.

Something about that girl. Not just the coincidence of seeing her twice in one day. Helen had felt it earlier too. The glossy hair, full rose lips, swaying hips demanding that all eyes were on her.

She reminded Helen of someone she knew a long time ago.

She felt like she was suffocating, the air in the kitchen closing in on her like a poisonous gas. She had to get out. She didn’t notice the tea spilling over the rim of the cup as she burst through the glass doors into the garden, filling her lungs with fresh air as soon as she stepped outside.