Jade fiddled with the roast and put it back in the oven. John hugged her from behind, kissed her neck. “It’s fine, leave it alone.”

Jade checked the time. He’d be here any minute. She wasn’t sure that she was up to this.

“When he rings the bell, you answer it, okay John?”

“That’s fine.”

“No! No … I’ll answer it. Then I’ll introduce you to him. I think it’s better like that.”

“I’ve met him before at the station, a few times.”

“But not proper. This is proper and all. I want to introduce you to him properly.”

“It’s fine. Any way you want it. But, Jade, you need to calm down. You’re even starting to freak me out, and you know I am un-freak-out-able.”

Jade laughed, and that helped. “Yes, I’m going insane.” She downed her glass of wine and filled it again. The doorbell rang. “Shit. It’s him. Where’s Zoya?”

“Do you want me to get her? She’s in her playpen.”

“I’ll get the door. You get Zoya.” Jade was trying to micromanage every detail like a crazy person. She stopped and took a breath. “It will be fine.”

John gave her a kiss. “Yes.”

She opened the door and Owen was there, with a bunch of flowers and a small stuffed monkey. He handed Jade the flowers. “These are for you.”

Jade took the flowers and didn’t speak. John stood next to her with Zoya. He held out his hand to Owen. “Glad you’re here.”

“Thanks.”

Owen handed the monkey to Zoya. Zoya looked at the monkey and said, “Hi Wilma.”

They all laughed.

“A monkey called Wilma – fair enough,” John said. He set Zoya on the ground and she held out her hand to Owen.

“Come I show you,” Zoya said.

Owen followed where his daughter led him, back toward her room down the passage.

John held Jade in his arms.

Jade looked up at him. “Are we going to be okay?”

John nodded. “Yes. We’re going to be just perfect.”

*****

Tell us what you think: What would be a fair punishment for Colleen Wright?