‘And you were drunk. Maria had been ignored for hours. She was wet, hungry, thirsty and in distress.’

A sorrowful sound escaped Loren. ‘I’m having a bit of trouble,’ she acknowledged. ‘I-I’m …’ She took another deep breath. ‘I shouldn’t drink with my happy pills but I thought one wouldn’t hurt. I didn’t think it would make me sleep like that. I’ll make sure not to do it again.’

‘Maria’s had two biscuits. Is there anything else for her to eat?’ he asked.

Loren nodded, went away and then returned with two more biscuits.

Without comment he went back into the bathroom. ‘OK, you two. Let’s get you dried. Josie, you can get back into the T-shirt and leggings you had on under your witch’s dress. There’s a fleece in your bag. Maybe Mum could find Maria’s clean pyjamas?’

Silently, Loren went into Maria’s room and returned with a matching set, lemon yellow with a sun on the front.

When both girls were dressed he said, ‘Josie, if you read to Maria in her room for a minute while she eats the biscuits, I’ll talk to Mum in the lounge.’

Mutely, Loren followed him. Each avoided the soiled sofa and took a chair. Loren’s eyes flicked over the empty wine bottle.

Nico’s heart chugged like a train. ‘I hardly know where to begin. Maria was properly distressed.’

Loren clasped her forehead. ‘I know I’ve been stupid. I didn’t mean that to happen. I put her down for a nap and just slept. That’s all.’

‘I don’t think that’s all, Lor,’ he said gently, using his old name for her, the one from happier days. ‘The wine bottle’s empty. You’d puked on the sofa. You looked and smelled as if you hadn’t washed for days and so did Maria. Josie’s been odd about coming to visit you so I’d begun to worry you were drinking again. I wish I’d come right out and asked you.’ He hesitated. ‘I suppose it would have been futile because you’ve always hidden the extent of your drinking.’ At least Josie hadn’t suffered as Maria had, though thinking as if one child was more important than another made him feel guilty. ‘I’m not buying this being a one-off. I presume the weekends you said you couldn’t have Josie you were drinking? You’ve always seemed fairly together when I’ve dropped her off so I guess sometimes you’ve been able to make the effort. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have left her here.’

He wasn’t leaving Josie here tonight, either, but he didn’t see any point in saying it just yet. ‘What about Maria, Lor? You weren’t looking after her today.’

Loren’s hand slipped off her forehead and over her eyes. Tears began to leak down her cheeks.