In the end she ran out of things to fuss about and a huge yawn overtook her. ‘Will you be all right? Do you want me to stay with you?’

Andi gave her a wan smile. ‘I’m tired. I don’t think that horrible stuff has worn off yet. All I want to do now is sleep.’

‘I’ll leave you, then. Remember, I’m just across the corridor if you need me.’ She went across to the door.

‘Mum.’

‘Yes?’

‘Thank you.’

She had to go back then and smooth the hair back from Andi’s forehead so that she could plant a kiss there, as she had done when she was a small child. Same straight, heavy hair as her own, but the forehead beneath it was flushed and the eyes swollen from weeping.

Her daughter’s arms came up round her neck. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘What for?’

‘Being awful to you. I was going to come and tell you but I couldn’t do that and ask you for money at the same time, could I? That’s why I was trying to earn as much as I could. I wasn’t going to keep working at that horrible place.’

‘I wish you had come to me.’

‘So do I.’

‘Well, we’ll focus on moving on, making a good life for you. I’ll help in every way I can.’

‘Is that what you did, when you got cancer, focused on moving on? Is that how you got better?’

‘Yes. I took one day at a time and did the best I could with it. It’s easier to cope with one day when things overwhelm you.’ She hugged her daughter again. ‘I do love you, you know.’ She watched Andi snuggle down and smile at her, a real smile this time.

‘I don’t know how you put up with me, but I’m glad you do.’

‘You’re my daughter. Nothing you do can take that bond away. You’re part of me.’

Sophie went to bed but couldn’t sleep, kept listening in case Andi needed her, wondering if they’d catch the rapist, praying the tests for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy would prove negative, though you had a long wait for some of the results.

A couple of times, as night moved towards dawn, she thought of Jez and warmth filled her briefly at how happy he’d made her feel. But that soon slid away into the distance, because for the moment she had to save all her energy for helping her daughter.

This wasn’t going to be allowed to ruin Andi’s life, whatever it took to help her through it.

Jez woke feeling happy, even before he remembered why. Then he stretched lazily. Should he ring Sophie straight away to wish her good morning? Why not?

But her phone rang and rang, then the call was picked up by the answering system, and a cool voice that sounded like a relative of Sophie, not the woman herself, asked him to leave her a message.

‘Jez here. Just wanted to say good morning.’ He hesitated then added, ‘And to tell you I love you.’