18/09/2026

Lily cautiously approaches Fallon at the Cruck Barn and asks if she should avoid Lower Loxley. She doesn’t want to make things awkward for Fallon. Fallon doesn’t need her to, and Lily stresses that she wasn’t having an affair with Harrison, no matter what Kenton thinks. Fallon doesn’t think they were, and doesn’t want Lily and Harrison to hide away on her account. They agree that they needn’t avoid each other, they will be civilised but not over-friendly.

Anna and Usha are excitedly visiting The Laurels ahead of Carol’s proposed respite stay. Anna’s so impressed with Alan’s powers of persuasion and calls him a saint. Alan visits Carol, who is visibly weakened. She sleepily reveals that the nurses couldn’t get her up today and have tried to contact Anna. Alarmed, Alan messages Usha. Carol is very quiet and happy for Alan to just sit with her. She says she’s not frightened now, and keeps drifting off. She agrees to him saying some prayers as her breathing slows.

Leaving The Laurels, Anna and Usha realise their silent phones have meant they’ve missed many calls and messages. Usha rushes Anna to the hospital where Alan is still saying prayers – he confirms that Carol has just slipped away. Anna can’t believe this when she seemed to be on the mend. She begs Alan to tell her how she died and he confirms it was peaceful, without apparent pain. Giving Anna some privacy, she holds Carol’s hand and, distraught, asks Carol why she couldn’t hang on for her to be with her at the end.