She took what she needed from her backpack as quickly as she could and found her way to the kitchen. Lily meanwhile was screaming loudly. Hurriedly fumbling with the teat, Ella ran back into the living room. She didn’t want Christine’s neighbours to hear the baby crying and become curious. The baby stopped crying as soon as her lips fastened on the teat.

‘People might think it was the television,’ she said, unintentionally voicing her thoughts aloud.

‘What’s that?’

‘Oh, nothing.’

‘Would you like some tea?’ Christine asked and went to put the kettle on.

‘Are you sure you can manage?’ Ella called after her.

Christine grunted and didn’t bother to reply. By the time she returned with a tray of tea, Ella had finished feeding and changing the baby, who was contentedly gurgling in her arms.

‘Do you want to hold her again?’ she asked. ‘She’s happier now.’

Christine held out her arms and Ella carefully passed Lily over, keeping her own hands beneath the baby until she was sure Christine was holding her securely. Glancing at Christine’s happy expression, Ella began to relax for the first time since she had seen her photograph in the local paper. She hadn’t stopped to read the article, but she could imagine what it said. Only when Christine switched the television on did she rouse herself from her pleasant doze.

‘Can we change the channel?’ she asked, worried that the news might pop up after the quiz programme Christine had put on.

‘What would you like to watch?’

Christine turned her head in the direction of Ella’s voice, her eyes moving rapidly as though she was annoyed.

‘I’m sorry, did you want to watch this?’ Ella asked. ‘Only Lily prefers cartoons.’

Christine’s expression softened and she held the remote control out in Ella’s direction. As she switched channel, Ella thought about what had just happened. There was no reason why Christine would be pleased about Ella turning up out of the blue like that, asking to stay, but she definitely enjoyed holding the baby.

‘She likes you,’ Ella said. ‘She won’t stay with most people. I can’t believe she isn’t crying.’

‘What happened?’ Christine asked quietly. ‘Who are you running away from?’

Ella heaved a loud sigh. ‘It’s my husband,’ she lied. ‘He’s always been bad-tempered. He can be violent. I kept meaning to leave him but then Lily came along and he promised to be different. But he didn’t change. People never do.’

She glanced apprehensively at Christine, afraid she had reminded her of their time at school together.

‘Not once they’re adults anyway,’ she amended her statement. ‘Anyway, I was afraid he might hurt Lily, so I ran away.’

Christine frowned, considering what she had heard. Ella held her breath.