‘I hadn’t thought of that,’ said Nico quietly, a strange, squeezing sensation in his belly. Social services supported other people’s families. Not his. He thanked Nan Heather for her insight and advice before ending the call.

Back in the sitting room, the girls were playing a game that involved Maria pushing Josie off the sofa with pudgy little hands and Josie falling with great, put-on wails. ‘Nooooo! Nooo! Awwww, Maria, nooo!’ Musical toddler chortles filled the air. Nico watched from the doorway, scenarios flashing through his mind like sweaty nightmares. Maria going to an unknown family. Nico taking Josie on visits. Trying to explain why Maria had to be left behind. Coping with Josie’s emotions, her white, distressed face. Josie might raise her voice to Maria occasionally but she loved her violently.

His daughter’s sister. It sounded like the title of one of those psychological thrillers.

Fucksake. Why him?

Awful tasks floating around him like demons in a horror movie, he phoned Emelie, reluctant to put on his big-hearted cousin who shouldn’t have to be bothering her head with his issues. ‘Is there any way you can do the early school run on Monday and have Maria until Tilly rocks up? I’ve got an unmissable meeting.’

Like Nan, Emelie was sympathetic but pragmatic. ‘For that little time, yes. I’d love to offer to do more but I’ve got essays and stuff.’

His insides lurched guiltily. ‘I realise I’m relying on your maturity to make up for Tilly’s rigidity and that you have a degree to get. I’m going to try for unpaid leave from Tuesday.’

For the rest of the day Nico chewed over the Maria situation and decided it was Nan Heather’s phrase ‘open-ended’ that was holding him back. He waited until the girls were asleep, then telephoned his ex-mother-in-law.

‘If I took Maria it couldn’t be an open-ended situation,’ he said, hoping he was being compassionate but clear. ‘At the outside, I could have her until Josie and I go to Sweden on December eleventh.’

Vivvi gave a strangled gasp of relief. ‘Oh, that would be fantastic. It gives us nearly three weeks. I can’t thank you enough.’

Decision made, Nico managed a reasonable night’s sleep.

Josie once again had the Monday Morning School Blues. She stared down at her Weetabix as if wishing she could leap into it and vanish. Emelie had to coax her into her school coat and the image stuck to Nico like a burr as he hurried to the tube station through a raw wintry morning that nipped his ears.

He eventually reached the SLS offices in Holborn, using his pass to gain entry then hurrying up stairs tiled like a brown and cream chessboard.

Katya followed him into his office as he hung up his black wool coat. ‘Meeting room two,’ she said. ‘Anders’s PA just put it on the electronic calendar.’