Claudia was confused when Leanne took two steps to the side. The second reporter moved away too, but kept her phone at eye level.

With a rush of adrenalin, Claudia realised the gap the two reporters had left wasn’t a gap at all. Two figures had been concealed behind them, waiting to pounce at the very last moment.

‘Hello,’ said Amelia.

Claudia took a sharp intake of breath and was too shocked to release it. Her lungs burned and her eyes were so wide they stung. She wanted to turn and run, but this was being played out in front of the camera, not to mention a ten-year-old girl who was waiting for Claudia to respond. She couldn’t speak. The blood pounded in her ears.

‘Oh, wow,’ Justin said, breaking the silence.

Claudia had to say something, but she was gripped with terror. She glanced sideways at Henry, who was clicking away with his bloody camera. What a mess. What an awful mess. She hadn’t meant for it to go this far.

13

Despite her certainty that Claudia Rothwell had taken the credit for someone else’s heroic deed, Leanne wanted to be proven wrong, but as she watched Claudia’s complexion pale, her heart sank. The reaction was exactly as one might expect from someone who had been caught out on a big, fat lie.

Amelia’s reaction was off too, and Leanne was waiting for her to look straight past Claudia and ask when the woman who rescued her was getting there. It was so surreal that Leanne had to stop herself from releasing a nervous laugh. She wasn’t entirely sure she succeeded.

‘Hello,’ Claudia said at last.

‘Hello,’ said Amelia.

The awkwardness continued as the girl and her so-called hero waited to see who blinked first. Leanne shared a look with Frankie. Amelia had shown up before Leanne had been able to explain what was going on to her colleague, but Frankie must realise something was amiss.

When Leanne thought she couldn’t stand the suspense a second longer, Claudia clasped both hands over her mouth to suppress a sob. She dropped to a crouch, her eyes welling up. ‘Oh, Amelia. Sweetheart. You look so well. I don’t think my heart can stand it.’

‘I was covered in dirt last time,’ Amelia conceded. She had pressed her body against her mother’s side, a handmade card clutched in her hand. She made no move to approach. ‘Is it really you?’

No, it bloody isn’t! Leanne wanted to scream. She had considered calling the whole charade off, but she needed Amelia to confirm her suspicions. She wanted reassurance that she wasn’t going mad.

‘It’s me,’ Claudia said, as a single tear spilled down her cheek.