home after this first day or, indeed, for the next several days, were not made public, but Dave and Sue took comfort from the absence of any negative feedback. They assumed it would be unlikely that Jo would suffer in silence.
As the days went by Dave felt confident enough about the girls to surprise Sue with the suggestion of a few days away. He had arranged for her parents to come down and look after things whilst they took a short break. His assumption that this was just what Sue needed seemed justified judging from her excited reaction.
âAll you have to do is put your best frock and some outdoor things into a suitcase and be ready to go first thing on Saturday.â
As they passed through Minehead, Sue recalled their last visit to Lynton. Fifteen years, almost to the day.
âWhat a lovely surprise,â she exclaimed, as they drove over Lyn Bridge and up Church Hill, before turning right into North Walk. This was where they had stayed during their honeymoon. Sue jumped out and began to open the car boot.
âWhat on earth are you doing?â asked Dave, with some amusement. Sue stopped, looking rather hesitantly at her husband. âI just thought youâd like the view from here. Theyâre probably fully booked anyway.â As he said this he led her a little way back along the lane to the bridge over the Cliff Railway and pointed across the valley. The view, yes she remembered. When they had last been to Choughâs Nest they had admired the view eastwards across to the wooded hill with the imposing Tors Hotel nestling amongst the trees.
âCome on then,â chivvied Dave, âletâs get on.â
âYou mean to say that weâre not stopping after you brought me all the way up here?â Sue found difficulty in keeping the disappointment from her voice.
âYou never listen to what I say, do you? I just knew youâd forget. What a memory.â
Sue looked abashed. âWhat are you talking about? What have I forgotten?â
âThe last time we were here, in 1954, I distinctly remember, as we were taking our last look across to the Tors, I said that the next time we came thatâs where weâd be staying.â
Sue was flabbergasted but overjoyed. They unpacked in a leisurely fashion and later took a short stroll along the paths surrounding the hotel. Looking down upon the lower village of Lynmouth, at the toy-town cottages leading along to the small harbour, Sue recalled that, at the time of their honeymoon, the newly built road and the village itself had only just been reopened following the terrible flood damage two years earlier.
*
He stopped abruptly; began shaking uncontrollably as he relived the terrible moment. Just an ordinary day unfolding in the way so many had over the past four years. The early lunch â he was on afternoons that week. The two mile cycle ride, familiar faces and predictable banter with his workmates â just an ordinary day. The familiar routine, taken for granted, transformed in a split second. Not uncommon, it happened all the time, life changing in an instant, ordinariness twisted and disfigured into chaos â but always to other people. He could never return.
âPlease accept our condolences and donât hurry, weâve plenty of time,â soothed the dark-suited chairman. Someone placed a glass of water at his elbow. Even sitting in the calm surroundings of the âRaleigh Suiteâ of the Forest Lodge Hotel he felt overwhelmed. Beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead. He sat facing the panel of four with a younger man to his right taking notes, all exuding sympathy. It had been three days ago, but recalling the events faithfully â he was obliged to be accurate â was an effort of will. His pulse raced, it was impossible not to react, recalling the events meant reliving them and this was too distressing.
âPerhaps it would be easier to answer questions to begin with before