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‘Hi. I hope she’s not as rude to you.’ Kelly took a sip of coffee.

‘How are you feeling?’ Rita asked gently.

Chloe gave the smallest shrug. ‘Fine now, thanks.’

Kelly’s expression said she did not believe that for one second.

‘I am alright.’ Chloe sniffed, pushing a sleeping Alfie alongside the Aga to warm him up. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m rarely sick and…’

‘It’s OK.’ Rita nodded. ‘I’m glad you’re here today. We will catch up properly, I promise, but I need to run Kel to the station.’

‘Right,’ Kelly announced briskly, standing up and shoving her sunglasses onto her head. ‘If I miss this train, I’ll be sending Mrs Routledge all the way down here for you to do her pedicure. She’s got corns the size of walnuts, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

Rita shook her head and reached for her car keys.

‘Safe journey,’ Chloe said automatically.

Then Kelly disappeared to the loo while Chloe shrugged off her coat, already moving instinctively towards the twins. Nathan stretched both arms towards her. That softened her expression for all of two seconds before whatever pain she’d arrived carrying settled back over her again.

‘Hello, you gorgeous pair,’ she murmured, kissing the top of Noa’s head. ‘Did you miss me?’

There it was again, the guilt twisting low in Rita’s stomach. She should never have watched those cameras. But now she knew. And somehow pretending she didn’t almost felt crueller.

‘How are you really feeling?’ Rita asked quietly.

Chloe gave a tiny shrug. ‘Honestly, I’m fine.’

The lie sat heavily between them.

Rita pulled up outside the tiny station at Polheron while Kelly sat slumped in the passenger seat, clutching her huge tote bag as if her life depended on it.

‘You alright?’ Rita asked as they stopped.

‘Yes,’ Kelly said faintly, ‘but I’m beginning to think this drinking lark isn’t for the working classes anymore.’

‘Have a sleep. You’ll be fine.’

At the station entrance, Kelly unbuckled slowly. ‘Sorry it’s been such a flying visit’ – she let out a little burp – ‘but I assure you I shall be spending more time down here next year.’

‘You’d better. I’m getting married in June, remember.’

‘Oh yes.’ Kelly grinned. ‘I was going to say, please don’t make me maid of honour. I’ll happily organise the hen do, but I refuse to wear satin in public.’

Rita laughed. ‘Noted.’

Kelly got out and slung her bag over her shoulder.

‘And re Chloe,’ she added, glancing back through the window, ‘my gut says she thinks the world of you and those little ones.’

Rita’s smile faded, but she nodded. ‘And so what if she likes your Thom? Most hot-blooded females would, to be fair.’

Rita shot her a look. Kelly immediately lifted her hands. ‘Don’t look at me like that. I only slept with Marie Ellis’s son because I can’t resist a man in uniform and that was way before I met my Ronnie.’ She smiled. ‘Love you, Reet.’

‘Love you more. Text me when you’re no longer a danger to public transport.’

‘No promises.’ Kelly did a little kick back as she headed for the entrance.

Rita watched her mate disappear from sight, the weight of the morning settling back in as she turned the car towards the harbour.