‘The funeral. Oh, no, I hadn’t thought about that. It wasn’t long ago that I was burying my mother, but there’s no way my Tommy is having a pauper’s grave too. No, he’s going to have a proper send-off. After all, it’s the last thing I can do for him,’ Sarah said, trying to hold back more tears.

‘You’ll do him proud, Sarah, I know you will. This is a bit awkward, especially at a time like this, but I can help you to pay for it.’

Sarah still had the reward money, and though she’d earmarked it for their future, without Tommy her plans held no meaning. At least she would be able to pay for Tommy’s funeral. ‘Thanks, George,’ she said, ‘but I can manage.’

‘You don’t have to make any arrangements just yet, but when the time comes will you at least let me help you?’

‘Yes, I’d be grateful if you would. To be honest, I’m struggling to hold myself together and can’t think straight. I just keep seeing Tommy’s face in my mind, and I can’t believe I’ll never see him grow up. It’s like a part of me is missing and I don’t know if I can carry on without him,’ Sarah said, and then she broke down again, sobbing.

George pulled her into his arms, and desperate for comfort, Sarah didn’t resist.

‘Let it all out, Sarah. As I said before, you need to grieve. In time, it will get easier, but in the meantime Mum and me are here to help you through this.’

Sarah could feel George’s shirt getting wet as her tears soaked into the material. She’d been strong in the past because she’d had to be for Tommy, but now, without him, she felt lost, as if she had no purpose in life any more.

Mo woke up excited, looking forward to meeting Barry again. She’d enjoyed pouting for his camera, and he’d told her she was a natural. Today he was going to add to her portfolio, and she couldn’t wait to be posing for him. He made her feel relaxed in front of the lens, and said she was beautiful. This was the break she’d needed and she believed it wouldn’t be long before she was on the front page of Vogue, with a career in films sure to follow.

Convinced he would disapprove, Mo hadn’t mentioned it to Sam yet. She’d decided to tell him when her picture appeared in a classy magazine, and that way he was sure to be impressed. He would see for himself that she was a proper model, and he’d be proud of her.