Page 88 of The Silent Appeal

12:05 p.m. Fran wrote:

The day’s only half over.

12:07 p.m. Amelia wrote:

I’m supposed to be polishing my CV but madam is moping around the place binge-watching serial killer shows on Netflix.

12:08 p.m. Fran wrote:

He’ll bring something home for you, I’m certain.

Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Lucas Stibson on February 14, 2025:

12:09 p.m. Fran wrote:

Hey! How are you guys celebrating Valentine’s Day?

12:25 p.m. Lucas wrote:

Not bothering. All that tacky red tat is a waste of coin.

12:27 p.m. Fran wrote:

Poor Amelia! You can pick up some flowers on the way home. There are still plenty of bunches here. How about red carnations? You get the effect, but not the expense of roses and no thorns.

12:49 p.m. Lucas wrote:

Tied up here all afternoon and evening. Won’t be back till long after Sainsbury’s closes.

12:51 p.m. Fran wrote:

I’ll get a bunch for you now, and a chocolate thing, drop them off to you at Lunar, and you can give them to her when you get in. It’ll mean the world.

12:57 p.m. Lucas wrote:

If you like.

To: Marianne Payne

From: Karen Payne

Date: February 14, 2025

Subject: Fran

Hi Mum, you won’t believe what I’ve just seen. Fran went down onto the shop floor, picked up a bunch of bright red carnations and a heart-shaped box of chocolates, bought them, then drove off in her car. She was back twelve minutes later, without the flowers or chocolates.

Went back to her office as if nothing had happened. What do you make of that? Karen

To: Karen Payne

From: Marianne Payne

Date: February 14, 2025

Subject: Re: Fran

Well, in his sermon last Sunday, Father Josh spoke about how religious holidays have become commercialized and meaningless. She was sitting in the front row, but can’t have been listening!