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The back door burst open on another gust of chilly air as Sennen stepped into the kitchen, cheeks pink from the frost, curls damp with mist from outside. One look at her face and Rita straightened in her chair.

‘Mum, I need to talk to you.’

Rita’s stomach immediately tightened. ‘What’s wrong, darling?’

Sennen shrugged out of her coat, glancing towards the driveway through the window.

‘Where’s Thom flying off to?’

‘To see Chloe. Have you heard from her?’

‘No. Nothing.’ Sennen tutted. ‘He’s such a dick, driving with broken ribs.’ She snorted softly as she headed for the kettle.

‘He is also so flipping miserable, I’m beyond worrying now,’ Rita admitted quietly. ‘I’m hoping the accident will slow him down a bit, at least.’

‘Thom slow down?’ Sennen laughed over her shoulder. ‘About as much chance as Hilda becoming a vegan.’

Rita huffed out a reluctant laugh.

Sennen made herself a coffee, then immediately reached for the tin of homemade mince pies Zenya had made before leaving for Priya’s. She took two without shame and settled opposite Rita at the table.

Rita allowed the silence to sit until Sennen inhaled slowly and then blurted, ‘I was seeing Taran Brimble.’

Rita’s eyes widened.

‘He was who I meant when I said someone was mucking me around,’ Sennen continued carefully. ‘He used to drop me at the bottom of the drive because I knew you wouldn’t exactly be thrilled about me seeing a Brimble, especially him.’

Rita opened her mouth. Closed it again.

‘Although now,’ Sennen added with the faintest smile, ‘you do seem to be championing Thom being with Chloe.’

‘That’s different.’

‘Is it?’

Rita sighed heavily. ‘Probably not.’

Sennen picked at the edge of the mince pie. ‘You asked me if I was seeing him before, and I swore on the twins’ lives.’

Rita looked up sharply. ‘You did.’

‘I swore I wasn’t seeing him and never would again,’ Sennen said quietly. ‘And that was true. It had already ended by then.’

The honesty in her voice softened something immediately inside Rita.

‘And Becca… were you seeing her too?’ Rita asked gently. ‘Or was that another lie?’

Sennen looked down. ‘Some of the times.’

The kitchen fell quiet except for the ticking clock.

Finally, Rita spoke more gently. ‘So how are you feeling now about Taran?’

‘Happy that I know I won’t put up with any more shit,’ Sennen said honestly. ‘Bad blood really did make my heart beat faster with him. He’s handsome, he’s charming, he’s great in bed…’

Rita winced. ‘Too much information.’

Sennen smiled weakly. ‘Sorry.’