‘Of course – what do you take me for?’ He looks hurt, as though he can’t believe I would think otherwise. ‘But she didn’t like being turned down. Was used to getting her own way, a product of parents who spoilt her rotten, apparently. And of course she was – and still is – a beautiful woman. Anyway, it was after that party that she sold the shop, and never contacted your mother again. Until—’

‘Mum left you for Jackson?’

He nods. Takes a gulp of his tea.

‘So she got in touch with Mum because you’d broken up?’

‘It seemed that way.’

‘Why didn’t you tell Mum when she made the pass?’

‘At the time, I thought it would make things worse. Your mum was already low from losing her job and her supposed friend. Later, when I realised Rosamund was back in touch, I didn’t think your mum would believe me. Our relationship was fragile by then; I didn’t want to damage it beyond repair.’

‘It was a long time ago, Dad.’

Our food arrives, but I’ve lost my appetite. I glance out of the window, onto the street. ‘Do you ever think you see Lark, Dad?’

‘Do you?’

I look back at him tucking into poached egg, and say, ‘I know it’s wishful thinking, but I sense her sometimes. Like at Mum’s funeral. It was as though she was with us.’

He puts down his cutlery, reaches across the table, and takes hold of my hand. ‘We’ll find her one day.’

‘No, Dad, we won’t.’ I pull my hand away. ‘We have to stop believing that. We wouldn’t have ended up trapped in the middle of nowhere with two people murdered and another girl missing, if we’d let Lark go. We have to let her go, Dad.’

He looks down. I’ve hurt him and instantly regret my choice of words. ‘I’ll never let her go, Amelia. Not until someone proves to me she’s dead.’

I gulp back tears. Dead. It’s so final. Like poor Ruth and Maddie. ‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘I didn’t mean—’

‘I know you didn’t. We’re all so volatile at the moment. But then it’s not surprising, is it?’

I shake my head. ‘I’m just not sure how much more any of us can take,’ I say, burying my head in my hands.

Chapter 45

Present Day

Amelia

Outside Molly’s Café I kiss Dad goodbye, and watch as he limps up the road. With a brief wave, he turns the corner towards the museum. Gone.

I feel suddenly lost, as I loop my bag over my shoulder. I need to head back down Marygate, to where I’ve locked up my bike. I need to get home.