The words hung between them – Anna and Muriel’s expressions stunned at her accusation.

‘Lizzie, please calm down,’ Anna said as she rose from her chair and put her arm around Lizzie’s shoulders. She shrugged her off.

‘I am calm. For a woman who’s just found out that not only had her own father let her down, she’d also been manipulated by other adults as a child.’

‘But you did tell us, eventually.’ Muriel’s voice was confident now, as if the end had justified the means. ‘Poor little Eliza, it broke my heart.’

‘What broke your heart?’ Lizzie’s eyes immediately stung with tears. It’d been building to this.

‘You had a doll, Polly you called her …’ Muriel paused, looking up to Lizzie.

Here we go. ‘Yes, I remember her.’

‘It was the only doll you seemed to love; the only one intact.’ Muriel took a deep breath. ‘And you showed us, using the doll. You showed us what he’d done to you.’

Chapter Sixty-Three

1989

Hayes residence

Monday 12th June – 37 days before

Mark grabbed Tina around the waist, grasped both her hands and then pulled her in to him. He twirled her around the kitchen, dancing to Jason Donovan’s ‘Sealed With A Kiss’. Jonie jumped out of their way, eyes rolling. ‘Yuk,’ she said, her nose wrinkled.

‘What do you mean, yuk? We’re just dancing.’

‘It’s gross.’

‘Oh, really!’ Mark said, coming to a stop in front of his daughter. ‘You won’t think so one day – you’ll be dying for a boy to sweep you off your feet and dance with you.’

‘Boys are stupid. And I can dance on my own, or with Bella. I don’t need a boy.’

Mark laughed, sharing a knowing look with Tina. He’d remind Jonie of that when she was a teenager and crying over some boy. He ruffled Jonie’s hair before turning his attention back to Tina. Her indigo-coloured shirt made her cool, blue eyes pop; their intensity seemed to penetrate his very soul. He wished he could see contentment – happiness – behind those eyes. He longed for the love he had for her to be reflected in them. They didn’t argue, or not often, but he’d felt a distance between them over the past year. Maybe he was neglecting her, spending too much time at the pub with the fellas. He should make more of an effort, he thought.

‘Fancy a barbecue at the weekend?’ he asked, brightly. ‘We could invite everyone, make the most of the good weather.’

‘Sure.’ Tina shrugged, turning to Jonie. ‘That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?’

‘If you say so.’ Jonie’s response appeared indifferent.

‘What’s wrong with you lately?’ Mark cut in. ‘You’re only ten and already acting like your mother does when it’s her time of the month.’

‘Mark!’ Tina jabbed a finger into his ribs.

‘Well, it’s true. You’re young and pretty, Jonie – not like your mother – why so miserable?’ He winked at Tina.

‘Dad. It’s boring in this village. There’s literally nothing to do. I’m not miserable, I’m fed up.’