Other adult-and-child combinations were heading for school but Josie was acting as if she couldn’t see them, which Nico knew to be a coping mechanism. Her nervousness was obvious because she didn’t try and distract Maria with a game and her constant high-pitched chatter rang with faux confidence. ‘I’m going to meet new friends, Dad, aren’t I? I just don’t know their names yet.’

Kids got you by the heart. Nico was so touched by her grimly positive attitude that he stopped to hug her. ‘We’re visiting today but new friends will come next.’ He was desperate that she’d settle at this school and the white, trying-to-be-brave face he’d grown to loathe would be a thing of the past.

She frowned up at him from his encircling arms. ‘When I’m at school, what will you do?’ Getting her head around him not being at work was proving a task. Nico had always worked. Josie’s care had always been shared. He wondered whether she thought he wasn’t up to the task without Tilly, Emelie and Loren on board.

‘I’ll be fine,’ he answered. ‘But you won’t stay at school today. After the visit we’ll go shopping for a table. It was OK for you and me to eat on our laps last night but I think Maria pretty much rolled in her macaroni cheese.’

Josie giggled. ‘And the curtains for our room. You’ll let us help choose?’

‘Yep. I promised.’ They set off again and he steered the buggy through the black iron school gates. Josie’s attention was taken by children waving goodbyes and filing into school with their teachers, doors to the outdoors from each classroom meaning each class could enter simultaneously.

Josie fell suddenly and ominously silent.

‘Right,’ said Nico brightly. ‘There’s the sign for reception. We’re to report to Miss Anderton, take a tour and meet the year three teacher, Mr Hodge.’ He hoped Josie wouldn’t decide Hodge was a funny name as she’d decreed Calcashaw to be.

Josie halted.

Nico stopped, too. ‘Let’s go in then,’ he said stroking her hair encouragingly.

The expression on her face was wooden. ‘Is Maria coming in?’

Surprise made him frown. ‘Of course.’

‘When’s she going back to Mum?’

‘When we go to Sweden, I think,’ he answered reassuringly. ‘And when we come back you’ll carry on seeing her.’ At least, there was no reason he knew of that she wouldn’t.