‘So, things not going to plan, then?’

‘Not really. On the plus side, I no longer think Mum has dementia.’

‘Oh? Then why was she acting so strangely?’

Anna gave him a brief run-down of what had been happening, hearing a sharp intake of breath every now and then. She finished her monologue with the part where her dad had supposedly abandoned her due to Muriel’s behaviour. The reason for never contacting Anna seemed to be because it was easier for her mother. He’d apparently loved Anna. Even vocalising it to James made her shake her head in disbelief.

‘What does that even mean?’ he asked.

‘Precisely! If he loved me, he wouldn’t have given up so readily. It doesn’t add up, does it? Why make my mother’s life easier, not mine?’

‘I suppose we don’t know how Jonie’s abduction and the subsequent assumption that she’d been murdered affected him and your mum’s relationship. Or you for that matter. Thankfully it’s not something we’ve ever had experience of. We can’t know the reasons your dad chose to leave for another woman and shack up with her in another country; we’ve only one side of the story.’ There was a pause before James spoke again. ‘Is it wise, dragging this up now? I mean, you’ve had years to question this …’

‘Don’t you start,’ Anna huffed. ‘Everyone seems to have an aversion to digging things up!’

‘Sorry, but why now?’

‘Because of the situation,’ Anna said, her tone shrill. She took a deep breath. ‘This is why I don’t visit Mapledon, James. This is why I rarely see my mother. Because now I have spent lots of time in her company, I can’t help but question everything. It’s easier to let sleeping dogs lie when there’s distance.’

‘Hmm,’ he said. ‘Maybe that was your dad’s view too.’ His voice was almost a whisper as though afraid of Anna’s reaction.

Anna wanted to be angry with him, shooting a sarcastic comment back, but it was as if all her energy left her. ‘Whatever.’

‘Have you got contact details for him—’

‘God, no, James. I’m not speaking to him, or seeing him. I don’t care what his reasons were. As far as I’m concerned, they weren’t good enough to leave a ten-year-old daughter. Would you leave Carrie?’

‘Well, no. Of course not.’

‘Exactly. Nothing could cause you to abandon her. My dad was selfish and weak, end of. And my mother let him walk and is now trying to somehow justify his actions by saying he’d left because of her, not me. You know, because he still loved me. Well, that’s bollocks.’

‘I agree, it’s weak. But maybe he deserves to put his side forward, rather than having Muriel speak for him?’

Anna closed her eyes, her mind conjuring her dad’s sandy-brown hair flopping over his high forehead. His cool-blue eyes. She could hear his calming voice, feel his warm hugs.

‘One day, maybe. For now though, I need to see this through here.’ She brought the conversation back to the present; she’d deal with her past another time.