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‘Bet she doesn’t. You need to talk to Lucy, Mum. It’s not fair. Kelly’s really down. It’s horrible for her. And now shehas to go back to school tomorrow and she’s sick at the thought of it. They are going to crucify her.’

‘Ever one for the drama,’ Sarah said, smiling at her daughter. ‘But I’ll talk to Lucy.’

Later that day, Sarah called intothe shop. It was empty and Lucy was behind the counter, tapping furiously on a calculator.

‘Hey.’

Lucy looked up and smiled. ‘Hey, there. Would you like a coffee from our fancy new machine?’

‘I’d love one. So you finally got it?’

Lucy grinned. ‘After the last few days of hell, I told Dad I was getting the machine and that was that. He knew not to say no. We’ve only had it two days and we’vesold forty coffees, so I think he’s happy enough.’

‘Good for you.’

Sarah sat on a stool behind the counter while Lucy fiddled about making coffee. ‘So, how are things?’ she asked.

Lucy poured milk into a stainless-steel jug. ‘Good, thanks. Dylan keeps following me around and hugging me, saying he’s sorry he blamed me and left home. I have my lovely boy back, which is such a huge relief. Itwas just awful, Sarah. I was scared I’d lost him for good.’ Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. ‘He was so angry. I was terrified he’d never realize it wasn’t me who sent that bloody picture.’

‘I know, but thankfully Kelly was brave enough to own up.’

‘Brave.’ Lucy frowned. ‘She said nothing and let Dylan leave home and almost get expelled. I’m so angry with her, she almost destroyed everything.’

‘Yes, but she did it out of concern and love.’ Sarah’s voice was firm. She wanted Lucy to see that Kelly had come from the right place.

‘She should have talked to me, or at least to Dylan. Whatshe did was … It was so wrong and underhand, and then the lying afterwards. It’s … Well, it reminds me of how Tom behaved. Lying and sneaking around. I worry she’s going to turn out like him. I want morefor Kelly. She’s a good girl, but what if she has his character as well as his looks?’ Lucy wiped a tear away.

Sarah took the coffee Lucy held out to her and put it on the counter. Her hand was shaking. She needed to tell Lucy about Tom. He was arriving so soon, but the whole Dylan drama had happened and now didn’t seem like a good time either. ‘Come on, Lucy. Don’t even think that. Kelly’s areally good person and a credit to you. She made a mistake.’

Lucy looked down at her coffee cup. ‘I know, but she’s changing, Sarah. It’s not the only thing she lied about. That boy Sean came around looking for her. She’s been seeing him and lying about it. So that’s two huge lies. What else is she lying about? I feel like I don’t know my daughter any more. She’s changed. She’s … she’s … I don’tknow who she is. I’m really worried about her. I need to keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn’t turn into her father. I’m not letting her out of my sight.’

Sarah sighed. ‘Kelly is a great girl. She’s kind and generous, and she worries about her family and everyone around her. She’s you. How can you not see that? She is exactly like you were.’

Lucy stiffened. ‘Me? I would never havedone something like that.’

Sarah eyeballed her friend. ‘So you never lied to your parents about going away on a dirty weekend with Tom? You didn’t lie about your pregnancy until you had to admit it? You never made a mistake as a teenager?’

‘Well, I never … I mean, that’s different.’

‘No, it isn’t. All young people make mistakes. Yes, Kelly’swas a very big one, but it wasn’t done to save herselfor for her own benefit. She did it to save you and Dylan. You have to give her a break, Lucy. Shannon said Kelly’s desperately upset. Just try to let the anger go and look at the situation from her point of view. Will you do that?’

Lucy sighed. ‘I’ll try.’

‘Okay, and now I’ve gotta fly – I’ve left the dinner in the oven.’

Sarah had reached the shop door when Lucy called, ‘Thanks, Sarah. Onlya best friend can make you see the other side of the story. Only best friends know all of each other’s secrets.’

Sarah’s heart sank as Tom popped into her mind. Not all of the secrets, she thought.

Later that night, when the kids were in bed and Darren was stuck into a football match on the TV, Sarah pulled out her laptop to check for messages from Tom. There was one, with his flight details,saying how excited and nervous he was.

Sarah had to stop him. Now was not a good time. Now was a disastrous time.

Hi Tom, I’m sorry, but you have to postpone the visit. Things are not good here. There’s been a lot of trouble and misunderstanding. Kelly did something pretty silly, although well intentioned, and has got into a lot of trouble. It’s all sorted out now, but Lucy is still reallyupset and shaken. So, now is just about the worst time in the world for you to waltz back into their lives. Please just push the trip back by a month. Let this all settle down. Honestly, arriving now would be a really bad idea. I know you’re excited and dying to meet the twins, but please trust me when I say do not come next week. Give them time to get over this hiccup. I’ll be in touch, Sarah