‘No,’ said Mimi. ‘You didn’t know. You couldn’t.’

Andrea twisted her mouth. For a moment, it looked like she was about to say something but then she stopped. Mimi pulled Andrea to the side, away from the door of the restaurant. ‘I promise,’ she said. ‘I don’t blame you.’

‘But why? The day that he did . . . what he did . . . your daughters were under my care. I was responsible for them. Why don’t you blame me?’

Mimi wasn’t sure why Andrea was pushing for this. Maybe it was to divert some of her attention away from Jill? But the truth was, Mimi really didn’t hold Andrea responsible — at least, not anymore. In the early days, when everything first happened, there were times when Mimi could have turned her anger towards just about anyone. Against Pete or Darren for not seeing what their brother was capable of. Against herself for letting Callie and Tara go to their place that day. And of course, against Andrea for being his wife. For not seeing the signs or watching more closely that day.

But as time had gone on, she’d slowly come to realise that there was only one person to blame. Tony. And while she might still harbour a level of resentment towards Jill, she had come a long way.

‘I don’t blame you because I believe you were basically a victim, too. He hid his true self from everyone. Besides, you were there for Callie that day, remember? It was you and Tara coming back upstairs that stopped him from taking it any further.’

‘Can I tell you something? I hate that I fell for him. I hate that I ever loved him.’

‘He was your husband,’ said Mimi. ‘Of course you loved him.’ She licked her lips, reluctant to say the next thing.

‘It’s okay,’ said Andrea.

‘I just found myself wondering, do you ever miss him . . . now?’

Andrea shook her head. ‘I don’t miss him. I miss the man that I thought he was when we first met. Back when I believed he genuinely cared for me and wanted the best for me. But now I think the only reason he married me was so he could tick that box. Show the world he was normal. Or maybe it was because he was trying to fight against those desires because he knew they were wrong . . . and he thought that if he was married . . .’

Mimi interrupted her. ‘I don’t think we’ll ever know what was going on in his head and I don’t think we want to.’

Andrea gave her a sad smile. ‘Yes, you’re right. Listen, I know it’s hard with Jill. And I know that you may never feel the same way about her. But she’s family. We’re all family. And when this new baby arrives, I want him to have his grandmother in his life at the same time as his aunt.’