‘Interesting,’ was all Meg could think to say at this moment, she was too concerned about her daughter. ‘Listen, you’ve lost your passports and your purses, with your cards?’

‘Jorge has bought us air tickets to Quito. I’m getting my credit card sorted.’

‘Do you need me to wire you money now, darling?’

‘No, it’s OK, Jorge is giving us what we need. I told him you’ll pay him back. You don’t mind, do you, Mum?’ Laura often repeated herself when she was excited, she always had.

‘My angel, absolutely I do not mind!’

‘I miss you,’ she said suddenly. ‘Like I really miss you. You’d love it here, Mum, it’s just – totally awesome. I’m really hacked off though, cos all my cash has been taken by those bastards. We were planning to fly to Argentina to see the Iguazu Falls. Cassie says her parents might lend her the cash – would you, too? And could you let them have her number if I give it to you?’

‘Of course. But how about if I pay for you both – for your flights there – if I came with you?’

Laura sounded elated. ‘If you come too? No way, wicked! Are you serious?’

‘Very serious. I could get a flight out to Quito and meet you both there! If Cassie’s OK with that?’

‘She’ll love it! Unreal. You are the best mum in the world!’

Meg grinned, all the horror of the past hour – and the days before it – temporarily forgotten. ‘I know.’

‘Seriously?’ Laura said. ‘You’ll come?’

‘If you really want me to? If you don’t mind an old person tagging along?’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ Laura said. ‘We’ll sort out wheelchair-friendly transport for you.’

Ending the call, Meg felt utterly elated. She was about to call her travel agent, when she suddenly remembered the text that had come in, from the recruitment agency. She read it.

Meg, we have a very exciting job interview for you from a major pharmaceutical company. Can you give me a couple of dates/times you could do an interview? They seem really keen on you!

Meg replied,

Just off to South America – a couple of weeks?

A response came back almost instantly.

I’m sure they will wait. You have exactly the background they need!

Despite all the horror in court just a short while ago, she felt a sudden burst of optimism. She’d not felt like this ever since the accident. For the past five years she had been living her life in survival mode, more like existing than living, being there for Laura. This was the first time she felt a real frisson of excitement about the future. Going to see Laura! Laura was safe, she was fine. Possibly a new and really good job when she got back!