Emelie blew out a breath, a frown on her young forehead. ‘I took her to the indoor gym yesterday and Jessica was there. Josie was quiet last night and kept asking when you’d be home but I just thought she was missing you. I’ll bet Jessica had been mean to her but Josie kept it to herself.’

‘Yeah.’ He flicked open his phone calendar. He didn’t actually have a meeting until eleven. ‘You get off to uni, Emelie. I’ll stick around for a few minutes.’ Quickly he texted his assistant, Katya.

Delayed by an issue with Josie. Will be in by 9.30 a.m. Please explain to anyone who needs to know. Thanks.

Katya was a star. She’d tell his team and recently arrived CEO Anders. He shoved his phone away, readied briefcase, jacket and coat then went upstairs to await Josie emerging from the bathroom so he could spend half an hour with her before battling the tube.

Emelie, who’d been bustling around downstairs, shouted, ‘Goodbye!’

Then Tilly arrived and shouted, ‘Hello!’

‘Just spending a few minutes with Josie,’ Nico called back.

Finally, Josie emerged, eyes pink. Nico eased her into his embrace and they sat on the landing listening to the sounds Tilly made in the kitchen.

‘It was cold in Stockholm,’ he said. ‘It’s only five weeks until we travel to Småland for Lucia.’ St Lucia’s Day was on the thirteenth of December … term time. Observing the abortive efforts of other parents to get term-time absences authorised Nico had simply decided to lie and say Josie had had a stomach bug. If she mentioned her trip at school and they challenged him, he’d admit the crime and pay the fine. It was probably a reprehensible attitude but it would get the job done. ‘Farmor and Farfar can’t wait to see you,’ he added. They’d always used the Swedish for her Swedish grandmother and grandfather. ‘And Mattias and Felicia.’

‘Mm,’ Josie answered unenthusiastically.

‘And in a couple of weeks we’re going to spend a weekend in a hotel, you and me, aren’t we? We’re going to a wedding.’

Josie perked up. ‘Your friend Rob is marrying Leesa, isn’t he? Will she have a dress like a princess?’

‘We’ll have to wait and see.’ His tension slackened at her smile. ‘I think you’ll like Rob and Leesa. I used to know Rob’s sister Hannah too and I met her in Stockholm at the weekend. She’ll be at the wedding.’ He had a sudden flash of schooldays at Bettsbrough Comp when bringing a girl’s name into conversation was referred to as ‘mentionitis’ and was meant to mean you liked her.

‘I’m going to have a new dress. We’re going on Saturday to buy it, before trick or treating, aren’t we?’ Josie snuggled up to Nico on the mushroom-coloured carpet, relaxing as they talked of good things.