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the leaves turned to orange and brown and conkers fell on the Windermere Road pavement, she was single again.
    The record got caught in a groove, Nina Simone’s rich vocals warped on a loop. ‘Are you never getting an iPod dock?’ she asked Siobhan, as her friend adjusted the needle. ‘I mean, there’s cute-retro, and then there’s living in a time warp. How about I help you get this place ready to bring a man—’ Laurie was cut short by an embroidered cushion flying at her face.
    CHAPTER 4
     
    Thursday 23rd November
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Milly,
    Hi! It was great to hang out with you at the pub the other night – I’m glad we managed to persuade you and Kate to stay till closing.
    I have this scrap of paper with your name and email scrawled on it – so I thought I’d drop you a line. It’s not every day I get to chat to a girl like you. I’ve seen you around before and have always thought you were gorgeous.
    I’d love to get to see you again. What are you up to this weekend? There’s a party on this Saturday, if you and Kate are free?
    Carter x
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Hi there,
    It was fun to meet up with you guys too. Thanks for the drinks. Way more fun than we usually have on a Monday night …
    The party sounds great, but I have to babysit my little brother on Saturday. LAME.
    How about the weekend after, maybe Friday?
    Mills x
    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    That’s cool. Friday it is – it’s a date! I’ll be back in touch next week.
    Cx
     
     
    ‘OK, you’re right,’ Bea said. ‘I’ve not been feeling myself lately.’
    Rachel took a deep breath – so she’d been right to ask. Since she’d seen Bea fall over on Wednesday afternoon, she hadn’t been able to shift the feeling that something was wrong.
    ‘I’ve been feeling quite dizzy and have lost my balance a couple of times,’ Bea continued. ‘Not just when I stand up quickly. And my hearing’s been a bit off.’
    For Bea to admit that she was unwell was significant: she never gave in lightly to illness. Aiden once joked that it would take pneumonia for her to get out the paracetamol, and Milly and Zak definitely knew better than to complain about colds or grazed knees around their grandma.
    ‘Maybe it’s that viral thing –’ Rachel said, searching for the word – ‘Laber …’
    Bea shrugged. ‘It’ll be something like that, yes. Whatever it is, it’s an awful nuisance. Not nice at all. I had a bad spell on the high street the other day. Thankfully John from the hardware shop found me a chair to sit down on until I felt better.’
    ‘Oh dear, poor you,’ Rachel said, concerned. ‘That doesn’t sound good at all. Have you been to see anyone about it?’
    ‘I went to see Dr Garrett yesterday, and she gave me a look over. Said it could be a number of things, but I shouldn’t ignore the symptoms.’ Bea fiddled with the buttons on her navy cardigan as she spoke. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing serious,’ she said, on seeing the worry in Rachel’s face, ‘and you know how I hate a fuss over nothing. But she wants me to see a specialist.’
    ‘OK,’ Rachel said.
    ‘It’s to rule certain things out,’ Bea said, ‘that’s all. And no doubt by the time they’ve done the tests this viral thing, or whatever it is, will have fixed itself.
    ‘But here’s the bore,’ Bea added, turning her wedding ring on her finger, ‘the specialist Dr Garrett wants me to see is in London. It’s an Ear, Nose and Throat unit. She said she could refer me to Leeds, if we wanted …’
    Rachel touched Bea’s hand as she fell silent. Leeds Hospital was where Bea’s husband David had been taken after his riding accident, and where he had died three years ago. While much nearer by, the hospital held difficult memories for all of them. Rachel thought of Aiden and knew what he’d say; Bea should get the best care possible, in somewhere she felt comfortable.
    ‘Well, if