‘Dad says she was depressed,’ Kirsty said. ‘She was thousands of miles from home. People here didn’t like her.’ Bex felt herself relaxing. But then Kirsty’s expression solidified. ‘And it was terrible what happened.’

And then Bex wanted to lie down in the dirt and cry, because it was so clear what Kirsty meant. She blamed you. We all blamed you. Instinctively she knew it was best not to argue. To accept that blame and see if they’d let her back into their lives anyway. ‘Sometimes I feel so worthless,’ she said. Even though it hadn’t really been her fault. Had it?

Kirsty gave her an appraising look, cocked her head and smiled her sunny smile. ‘Well, there are some that would disagree.’

‘What do you mean?’ Bex was exhausted from trying to fathom the subtext. Was this going to be a nice comment or a dig?

‘The boys. I never knew you’d turn out so pretty. Daniel and Gary have both got their eye on you.’

Bex blushed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the pretty one. With your lovely blonde hair.’ She sensed it was safer to let her older sister keep the upper hand.

They reached the top of the path where it turned into a lane and entered the lower part of Gritton. Kirsty was right that Daniel’s place was far closer than their dad’s house, which sat high above the valley, looking down on the village as if it was supervising.

They arrived at the end of a row of terraced houses. The others were waiting by a gate which opened into a fenced-off street.

‘Why is it gated?’ Bex said.

Nobody spoke. They trooped through the gate, and Daniel looked down and fished a key from his pocket.

‘It’s to stop cars treating it like a rat-run,’ Kirsty said. ‘And keep the kids safe.’

Daniel was studiously avoiding looking at anyone. He shoved a key into the door of one of the houses, a shabby place with yellowing net curtains in the windows. He kicked an old milk bottle away from the door and pushed it open.

‘Come in then.’ Daniel led them into a dark hallway, and poked his head quickly into a room on the left. He sounded relieved as he said, ‘The living room’s there. Go in for a minute. Mum must be out.’

Bex walked into the tiny room. ‘I’m a bit dirty …’ she started to say, but tailed off when she saw that ashtrays littered the floor and wine and whisky bottles were piled beside the sofas. A sharp, sweet smell almost made her gag.

‘Are you happy now?’ Daniel spoke directly to Kirsty.