The fourth held the unidentified female with her unborn child. A silver angel holding a white dove sat on top of the wood where their names should have been.
In the front pew, Andri Petrovci had Milot on his knee. The little boy held a new white rabbit with floppy ears. With one hand he fingered the toy’s label, over and back, over and back. His dark eyes searched for his mother in the crowd behind him.
Lottie and her children were in the next row. Katie held out her hand to Milot and he smiled at her. Lottie’s heart was breaking for her daughter, but Katie was happy now her pregnancy was out in the open. Chloe kept her head down. Milot reached out and rubbed her hair until she looked up at him. He said something to his father, and Andri turned round and acknowledged Chloe with a nod.
At least Milot is with his dad now, thought Lottie. Katie’s baby wouldn’t have a dad. Her own children no longer had their father, but her heart soared with pride at the stories Andri had related to her of his time with Adam at the chicken farm.
The sound of murmuring rippled through the congregation as the tap-tap of crutches approached on the marble floor.
Maeve Phillips stood beside Lottie’s pew.
‘Thank you, Inspector,’ she said. ‘For saving my life.’
Lottie stood and touched the girl’s elbow as she edged into the seat. ‘I don’t know what you’re going to do, Maeve,’ she whispered, ‘but when your dad gets out of prison, don’t go to live with him. Believe me, he is not a good man, no matter how much money he has.’
Maeve said, ‘I thought he sent me that expensive dress. Just look how wrong I was.’ She moved weakly along the row.
Lottie felt Boyd slip his hand into hers.
Glancing across the aisle, she saw Jackie staring at them.
She squeezed Boyd’s hand.
For now, it was comfort enough.
Tomorrow it might be different.