Chapter 5

On Sunday morning, Grant stood inside the conservatory at Old Oak Manor.

The white roses were in place. The aisle was clear.

Tessa, Brooke, Marcus, and Colin were already there.

No one else had arrived.

Valerie was never late.

Still, Grant told himself she was only making him wait.

She would come.

The memory of shouting the five of us sat badly in his chest. He had only spoken too sharply, he told himself. Tessa had only been trying to help.

Brooke’s phone rang.

She listened without speaking, then looked at Grant.

“It’s Aunt Deborah,” she said. “She thought you…