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A van co fast up to the junction seemed to startle her into a dash to the pavement, where she stopped and leaned over the saddle as if her sto her

The crematorium funeral was an even more dismal event than usual, mainly because the two hymns chosen were French, which few of the priest had not known Marie-Elise or apparently made any effort to find outas soon as she could, not to go into town, as she had planned, but out to the farmhouse to see if Molly had arrived back in one piece

There was a , and it was Cat’s turn to host, so Molly usually made the cake and then put Felix to bed, helped Hannah with homework or watched television with her, so that Cat was free

Emma’s bookshop in the Lanes had been a success but would not have been so without initiatives, in the forroups, author visits and talks Now, she had plans for a book festival over one weekend in the spring and Judith was brainstoraniser of the event itself As she drove now she had ideas for both another potential visitor and a competition, and tried to keep them in mind until she could stop and write them down If the festival was a success, perhaps they could extend it to a long weekend the following year

‘It’s what Lafferton has been waiting for,’ she had said to Richard, co

‘I doubt it’

His lack of interest and support, in this as in other things, ht his corner, especially when Simon criticised him for coldness and lack of interest in whatever activities and occupations Meriel, his first wife, had had When Judith and he had married, he had at least h that had not been very much, outside of home and her life with hione

The car dashboard already showedout of the sky as she pulled up in the drive The winter had been too ht up on them with a week of snow and blizzards which had iven way to bitter cold Judith pulled on her coat and scarf even for the few yards to the front door The house was in darkness, Cat’s car not in the drive It was half-term so there was no school run and Sam ay for the week

Wookie the Yorkshire terrier had already heard her and was yelping with delight Judith took out her key, but the front door was unlocked She went in and through to the kitchen to switch on the lights Mephisto opened half an eye froain

There were no preparations under way for the evening ahead, no cake cooling on the rack, no chocolate shortbread under cling fils set out Molly had always made a start by this time, conscientious as she was

Judith went into the hall and listened but the house had the oddly hollow sound of one that was empty

She went back to the kitchen and put on the kettle Cat had not been expecting her of course and had probably taken the children somewhere, but what about Molly? Where was she?

Judith went to the side door and looked across the yard Molly’s bicycle was propped against the log shed

Three

‘IT’S TIMES LIKE this, you know?’

Cat had got out of her car and atching Hannah who had flung her ar in her ear Felix was still strapped into his seat playing an intricate ga a plastic box, a tiny silver ball and nine holes on a painted golf course Ga kind were now his passion and his skills were better than those of anyone else in the fa that his presence would be overlooked and he would be left in the car all night to play this one

Judith unwound herself fro a has happened and I can’t o back’

‘Back?’

‘For a second audition For the part in the film, duh’

‘Hannah!’

‘Sorry’

‘The fil into the car to unbuckle Felix, who squealed in protest, flailed his araet it, I’ll get it, the et the part’

‘Doesn’t work like that, I’m afraid But thanks’

Judith took Felix’s hand, and they went into the house ‘What was it you said? "Tiood happens, even a s, and I still want to rush home and tell Chris Madness’

‘No Perfectly normal and understandable You’re so hard on yourself’

‘I thought you were at a funeral Marie-Elise?’

‘I was I went’

‘Upsetting?’

‘Not exactly But I couldn’t face the bun fight’

Cat took out the cafetière

‘Besides, it looks as if you’re going to need help for tonight’

‘Oh?’

Judith told her ‘I was just going to investigate upstairs in case she was ill’

‘It would be seeing the hearse,’ Cat said ‘I’ll go up in a minute’

‘I can –’

‘Thanks but it had better be ame and handed it to Felix who rushed off to the den with it

How tall she is, suddenly, Judith thought, tall and slender and no longer really a child

Hannah’s eyes were bright with excitement ‘OK, listen, some film people came to drama class and asked some of us if anted to audition, people they picked out, and I was one, only loads of us were We went into the side room and did some stuff and they talked to us and they said they’d let us know if they wanted to see any of us again and I forgot all about it and today we got the letter and they want to see ME ME ME ME again I have to go to an audition room, in a hotel, next week’

‘That’s fantastic, Hanny! Well done!’

‘Yes, though of course nothingrepeated