‘He’s really sad he couldn’t make it, Jamie, so he asked me to come for him. I hope that’s okay?’ She scans his heart-shaped face: the nose and eyes are so like Max, and the long dark eyelashes, Emily has the same ones too.

‘But he promised he’d be here,’ he whines. ‘Where is he?’

‘He had to go away for work, but he says he really misses you and he left this for you.’ She reaches in her pocket and hands him a present. He rips it open hungrily and takes out a bar of his favourite chocolate; at least, she guesses it’s his favourite because she’s found enough wrappers in his bin. Inside is another present. He opens it and shouts with delight at the set of rare black star Pokémon cards. Maddy is well aware of his huge collection carefully displayed in special albums, and knows from Emily going to boys’ birthday parties that these are the ones they really want.

‘You’ll probably have to hide them from your mum, otherwise she’ll start asking questions and we don’t want your dad getting in trouble, do we?’

Jamie shakes his head. ‘When’s he coming home though?’

‘I’m sure it won’t be long now. I think he’s staying away because he had a bad argument with your mum?’ She’s searched through Alison’s Facebook page and, reading between the lines, that’s the main reason she believes he’s not come back. But in Maddy’s mind there can only be one reason why he’s disappeared from Alison’s life, too, and she can’t accept that, not until a body is found.

‘Yeah, they’re always shouting at each other because Mum wants to get married and he doesn’t. I wish they’d stop, because it doesn’t matter, but nobody asks me.’

‘Ah, I’m really sorry. That must have been tough for you. She’s not very nice to your dad. I think he’s had enough.’ Why didn’t he leave Alison and come home?

He nods and looks like he might cry. Emily is watching them, so she beckons her over. Jamie is looking over his shoulder like he ought to get back.

‘There’s something else your dad asked me to do. He wants you to meet someone special.’

‘Who?’

‘This is Emily. She’s your half-sister. Emily, meet Jamie.’ They look at her then at each other. Jamie frowns and steps back.

‘I’d better go home.’ His voice is small. It’s a shock, of course it is, which is why she’s not mentioned the baby.

‘Already? You’ve only just got here. I’m sure your dad would love you to stay and play with your little sister, so you can get to know each other?’