‘I think so … She’s confused … I don’t think she knows who I am. She thought Lana would be here.’

‘How did she find you?’

‘She was sent. By the same person who called me.’

‘Who called you?’ Things were moving incredibly quickly; it was impossible to keep up with this damn game.

‘A woman. She didn’t give a name. She said that Lana was unable to look after Jane any more and that it was my turn to step up. Then she said I should call you.’

‘She told you to call me? What exactly did this woman say?’

‘She said that before I did anything else, I had to call you and tell you that you did the right thing, that Jane is safe now.’

Bloom felt a surge of hope. Maybe she’d been right. ‘Can I speak to Jane, please? Just quickly. She knows me.’

‘Would you? That would be great. I’m not sure what to say. I don’t want her to freak out. If she believes all those things about me that Lana said …’

‘I’ll explain.’

‘And one more thing. The woman who rang – she said something strange about someone called Carl Rogers and positive regard.’

‘Unconditional positive regard?’

‘That’s it. What’s that?’

‘Carl Rogers was a psychologist. He developed a therapy for his patients founded on the principle that we only need unconditional support from one person in order to recover from psychological abuse.’

‘Why would she mention that?’

Bloom thought about it. ‘I think she’s saying that Jane needs a different kind of parenting, someone who will love and respect her unconditionally.’

‘Because Lana doesn’t?’

‘Possibly. I don’t know enough about their relationship to comment.’

‘OK.’

‘Do you think you can do that?’

The line fell quiet for a moment. ‘Be her father, you mean?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s all I’ve ever wanted.’

Bloom asked again to speak to Jane and was relieved to hear her voice, clear and confident, down the line.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know,’ replied Jane. ‘Who are these people? Why is he calling you? Where is my mum?’

‘Jane, I need you to listen to me carefully. Marcus and I met Thomas earlier this week, because we’d discovered that your father was nothing at all like your mother had described. He wasn’t a drug user or a child abuser. When you were born, he was a newly qualified dentist who loved you and your mum very much. He’s spent most of your life trying to find out where your mum took you.’

‘This man is my father?’

‘Yes, and he’s a good man with a loving wife, and you’ve two step-brothers who you can get to know now. I know this is a shock, but you’re safe there.’

‘That’s what he said.’