Truro was the next stop on their boat trip and proved delightful with its cathedral and pretty streets. They stopped for a cold drink and Em saw that at some point her message had finally been delivered and that Izzie had replied – Great, thanks! – and felt reassured. Then they were back on the boat, the sea grey beneath the still-heavy clouds, and she was congratulating herself on everything turning out nicely, George’s leg warm against hers as they bounced over the waves. ‘I hope we can make it back to the car before the storm breaks,’ he said, eyeing the flinty sky.

It turned out that there was more than one kind of storm. Because the boat was just puttering back into Falmouth harbour once more when Em’s phone bleeped, back in range, and she saw that there were three missed calls from her friend Louise, as well as a text: Ring me when you get this. V important – re Izzie.

What the hell . . . ? Louise’s daughter Ruby was friends with Izzie, and Em immediately began piecing together alarming scenarios of what might have happened while she’d been out on the boat, without a signal. She’d had that message in Truro, though, that Izzie was okay, so what could have gone wrong in the meantime? With her head in a whirl, and trying to help shepherd the children back onto the harbourside, her phone started ringing before she had the chance to return Louise’s call. Dom, it said on the screen, and Em clambered onto the dock and fumbled to press Answer. ‘Hello?’ she said.

‘What the hell is going on?’ he said. He sounded really wound-up. Angry, even.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked. ‘Is this about Louise? I’ve had really patchy phone service all day, I’ve only just—’

‘Louise rang me because she couldn’t get hold of you,’ he said. God, yes, he was definitely angry. He was practically spitting out the words as if he was about to boil right over, so loud that both George and Jack could hear too, judging by their faces.

‘Right – something about Izzie,’ Em garbled, feeling defensive. Oh no, was he cross that he’d left Izzie on her own for the day? That was a bit rich, when he was always telling her that she didn’t give the kids enough freedom. And she was sixteen! ‘She was fine, last I heard. What did Louise say?’

‘She said – and I can hardly believe I’m saying this – that Ruby’s sister saw something on Ruby’s phone.’ He sounded as if he was about to explode. What on earth was this about? ‘Saying that Izzie . . . that she’s been naked and copping off with that man.’

‘WHAT? What are you talking about? What man?’ Em practically fell over. George shot her a worried look as he took Seren’s hand and began leading her away, shooing Jack along too.