‘All good!’ Rob boomed. ‘Honeymoon plans even better. Your family room at the Port Manor Hotel will be waiting for you from three p.m. on Friday thirteenth November. Check out by noon on Sunday the fifteenth.’

‘Right.’ Nico felt his heart give a slither of apprehension but he ignored it. Today was the first of November so he had a whole two weeks. Something would have happened to relieve him of Maria by then.

Tights finally in place, Josie threaded her little sister into a purple dress with a white fluffy rabbit on the front. Maria turned to him, pointing to the bunny. ‘Look, Mydad.’

‘Rabbit,’ he said, automatically. And then, because the weird situation hit him with breathtaking force, he found himself jumping up and crossing the landing to his own room so he wouldn’t be overheard, pouring out to Rob what had happened last night.

Rob gave a low whistle. ‘She’s seriously staying with you? Are you, like … sure? I mean, Maria—’

Nico rolled his shoulders to release tension. ‘What else could I have done?’ It wasn’t an empty question; he was curious as to whether there was something he was missing, some door marked ‘way out’ that he was overlooking.

‘Loren’s family,’ Rob suggested.

‘I’m hoping, but Loren’s dad’s having heart surgery tomorrow so her mum has her hands full. Loren’s an only child. I can’t think of a handy aunt or cousin who’d step in.’ Nico glanced in the mirror, rubbing his stubbly jaw and deciding tomorrow would be soon enough to shave.

‘Loren’s friends?’ Rob tried again.

‘No idea who they are,’ Nico answered tiredly. ‘If I’m not prepared to have Maria for a couple of days then the choice is: leaving her with a woman who’s not looking after her or notifying social services.’

‘Holy shit.’ Rob sounded stunned.

‘Yep.’ When the conversation had ended with Rob wishing him good luck, Nico saw he’d received a text from Tilly. Will phone you about noon.

Great, thanks, he returned, and, to show appreciation, You’re a star. Then he stepped onto the landing in time to see Emelie, who stayed at her boyfriend’s place a lot at weekends, yawning her way up the stairs, flaxen ponytail dishevelled and mascara smudged.

‘God morgon.’ She smiled with sleepy eyes. Then she drew level with Josie’s room and stopped when Maria said loudly, ‘Yes! My dolly want beckfast.’ Emelie craned around the door then switched her grey gaze to Nico. ‘Maria’s here?’ she whispered.

Resignedly, Nico recounted the story again, adding, ‘Talking to Vivvi, I was reminded that years ago she was head of a team selling time-shares. When they got you into a room they made you feel you were in the wrong if you wanted to get out. She doesn’t let consideration for others get in the way of her goals.’