Then the back door opened and Nico jumped out, a plume of gleaming white flying into the air around him. ‘We’re making a snowman, Dad,’ Josie cried and Hannah let Josie and Nico take on the serious construction work while she made mounds of snow for Maria to kick.

Eventually the snowman stood smartly to attention in a black furry hat Carina passed out through the door, with pebbles for eyes and a potato for a nose. Maria began to yawn and yank her mittens off, then cry because her hands were cold. ‘I think it’s time to get settled at Dad’s house,’ Nico said, swooping Maria into a warming cuddle.

Carina and Mattias wrapped up well and came out to wave them off. While Nico was making arrangements with Mattias about seeing Lars that evening Hannah thanked Carina politely for lunch.

Carina smiled but her eyes were on Nico. ‘He looks a little … thin,’ she said carefully.

Hannah was whizzed back to when she’d seen Nico in Stockholm almost seven weeks ago and had suspected he was living on the streets. He’d improved since then but she didn’t think it would comfort his mother to share that thought. She answered, equally carefully. ‘I think he’s conscious of the need to eat properly and set a good example to the girls.’

Carina flicked a glance at her as if wondering how much she knew. ‘He’s becoming attached to Maria.’

Unexpectedly, Hannah felt herself bristling. ‘I think he’s done something worthwhile in earning her trust and affection when she seriously needs stability.’

‘Yes. But even a big heart can be broken.’ Carina sighed as she pulled a knitted hat out of her coat pocket and crammed it on against the frigid air. ‘Don’t you think he’ll be unhappy when Loren takes her back?’

Hannah stared at the older woman. ‘You’re worried about that? I suppose I’ve looked at it from Maria’s point of view. I hadn’t thought about Nico getting hurt.’ She’d seen him as put-upon and kind … but not vulnerable.

Carina smiled wistfully. ‘He’s my son. I know him well so of course I worry.’ Then she changed the subject. ‘Yesterday, I visited Lars’s house and changed the beds. It’s a small house but you’ll have a room of your own. I’ve made airbeds up for the girls in Nico’s room.’

‘That’s very kind. Thank you,’ Hannah answered mechanically, her thoughts still occupied with Nico’s feelings. Then he was gathering them up and ushering them out to the grey bulk of the rental car for the ten-minute journey to his dad’s house in Nässjö, deftly performing the routine fatherhood things like wrangling Maria into her car seat, answering Josie’s constant stream of questions at the same time as ensuring hats, mittens and scarves weren’t left behind.