Maria’s dad. Loren’s lover. To Nico he’d never had an actual name. ‘Only financially. He’s never met Maria and I’m told Loren doesn’t have contact details.’

Nan Heather grunted. ‘Social services will have! But let’s assume it’s not possible for him to help. Maria’s mum and grandparents can’t look after her. Do you care for her?’

His neck tightened. Was Nan Heather one of those who viewed single dads as second best when it came to childcare? ‘Take care of her, do you mean? I think I do OK.’

‘I’m sure. But, care. You know. Hold in affection,’ she asked gently. ‘The overriding need for any child is to be safe and well cared for.’

His stomach somersaulted as the various meanings of the English word ‘care’ dawned. When he’d read the phrase ‘well cared for’ he’d always assumed it related to food and shelter. Being safe from abuse. He had to sit down as he realised that he didn’t just care for Maria … he cared about her. Not just if she was shut in her room, not just whether her stomach was empty but whether it was tied in knots of fear. The reason he couldn’t bear to think of her going to strangers – including her birth dad – was that he cared whether she felt happy. He swallowed. ‘It’s hard not to. She’s a cute, engaging little thing.’

The creaky voice on the other end of the phone softened. ‘Then before you decide if you should look after her you need to establish: can you? You won’t want to take her from one iffy, unsettled situation to another. If that were to be the case, you might have to consider letting her settle with experienced fosterers until it’s established to what extent Loren will be in her life.’

‘Right,’ he murmured, shaken by quite this much pragmatism. ‘You don’t think her being with Josie is valuable?’

‘Very,’ she said promptly. ‘And social services usually want to keep siblings together if possible, too. But it’s only one consideration. Can you arrange your life to accommodate Maria?’

Nico deliberated. ‘Childcare would be tricky. I’m already having trouble covering Josie’s needs since Loren can’t take her at all now, my cousin Emelie wants to move out and Tilly, the nanny Josie’s had since she was tiny, has become less flexible. We’d need a 24/7 live-in nanny, which would part Josie from Tilly.’

‘They’re big changes.’ Nan Heather’s creaky, squeaky voice oozed sympathy. ‘If you do offer Maria a home – especially on an open-ended basis – it’s wise to inform social services. Don’t be scared of them. They’ll support a suitable friend or family member looking after a kiddie above trying to find them a home with strangers.’