Her hand lay on the sofa between them and he picked it up. Instead of replying, he sighed. ‘Talking to an addict’s difficult. They try and draw you into their world view. They’re plausible and persuasive. They get you questioning things you never ought to. Loren found rehab too hard and saw me looking after her as easy. She thought I’d enable her to avoid the professional help she needs. It’s tough to make someone like her accountable when she acts as if I’ve made her promises I’m trying to go back on.’ He remembered the agonised conversation that had taken place in the kitchen while the girls sat in the sitting room, mercifully entranced by Frozen II.

Hannah’s eyes were huge with remembered pain. ‘Her mother told me you’d agreed that you all belonged together.’ Her voice shook.

He kissed her hand, furious with Vivvi all over again. ‘Loren and Vivvi share some traits, I guess. Vivvi’s under stress and her instinct was to try and unload it. It’s a human frailty. But I agreed to nothing. I told Loren I wouldn’t be emotionally blackmailed into taking her over like another dependant.’ He was calming now at having Hannah near him again and listening. ‘I had to keep repeating I didn’t cause the situation and it wasn’t up to me to fix it. Refusing to be manipulated by an addict isn’t always easy but sometimes it’s for the best.’

‘Then she’s not going to accept your decision easily.’ Worry rang in her voice, though she shifted closer.

He slid an arm around her, his heart quivering at feeling her against him. ‘I’m afraid that’s a possibility. It’s a bit like me and bulimia. By purging, I could eat what I wanted and not get fat. Loren thinks that sharing my life would mean she could do what she wanted and I’d see she was OK.’ He withdrew enough to look into her face. ‘I told her what you said about being in a troubled aircraft and having to get your own oxygen flowing before you could help others. And I told them, “I can help others. But Hannah’s my oxygen. I can’t do it without her.”’

A tear eased from her eye. ‘But where does that leave Maria?’

His heart flipped. ‘That’s the plan I wanted to talk over. I’ve offered to take Maria permanently. Initially, it’ll be considered long-term foster care. After a year I may be able to make it more official and assume parental responsibility. It means Josie and Maria won’t be separated. They’ll be able to see their mum but live with me.’

A frown puckered her forehead. ‘So in the first year Loren could change her mind?’

‘Yes,’ he admitted baldly.

‘In which case, what?’ Her aqua eyes were like sea glass.