But it wasn’t the quaint features of the station that caught my attention this evening; it was the sight of Evie and Dad standing near the exit.

As soon as Evie saw me she dashed forward. ‘Lottie!’ she yelled.

My sister had inherited Mum’s build: petite, dainty and as slender as a blade of summer barley. Her chin-length blonde bob perfectly framed an elfin face from which shone huge, intelligent eyes. Now, though, her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy.

She flung herself at me and almost suffocated me with the strength of her hug and I could feel every notch in her spine. She’d been through so much, and I hadn’t been there for her. I’d make up for it, I vowed silently, hit by a fierce rush of love for her.

‘It is so good to see you,’ I said, returning her embrace. ‘I’m so sorry about you and Darren.’

‘Don’t.’ She mimed zipping her lips. ‘Not yet. But you couldn’t have come at a better time. I really need my sister right now.’

‘Ditto,’ I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. ‘Does Dad know?’

She grimaced. ‘Told him on the way here. Poor bloke almost cancelled his trip. I hope I’ve convinced him I’ll be fine.’

We pulled back to look at each other at the same time; both of us had tears sparkling in our eyes.

‘Will you?’ I asked.

‘Eventually,’ she said huskily. ‘Something needed to happen, it’s been like living in a pressure cooker in our house for the last couple of months. I’m just sad that the “something” had to be us splitting up.’

Her gaze lowered to my two large suitcases, which by anybody’s standards were excessive for a flying visit. She looked quizzically at me but before she could ask questions, Dad wrapped his arms around both of us. I’d inherited Dad’s height and dark hair, but luckily not his broad-shouldered, muscular frame, although there was a lot more of me than Evie.

‘Is this a private teary reunion, or can anyone join in?’ he said, giving us whiskery kisses and tickling us with his wiry beard. We giggled and wriggled away, just as he’d known we would, as we’d been doing for the last thirty-odd years.

Finally, we broke apart. Dad picked up both my cases and Evie insisted on carrying my handbag to his van, which was parked in the waiting zone outside the station.

‘Now, seeing as I’ve got both my girls to myself for a change,’ he said, once we were all belted up in the front of the van, ‘I’ll treat you to dinner. It’s either back home for sardines on toast or down to the pub for fish and chip Friday.’

‘Oh God,’ said Evie with a shudder. ‘Pub. No contest. Besides, I need a drink.’