‘To be honest,’ Finn said, as Amelia approached, ‘we’ve only covered a small part of the forest tonight. If they’ve taken a wrong turn, they could be anywhere. We should probably call the local countryside ranger.’

‘That’s a bit of an overreaction, Finn,’ Amelia said, heading off towards the wood. ‘They couldn’t have gone far, surely,’ she called over her shoulder.

‘Lark!’ she cried, as they followed her. But it was so quiet – too quiet.

*

‘Lark! Jackson!’ Amelia yelled. They’d been searching for ten minutes now, making their way deeper into the forest. And she was about to suggest Finn could be right about the ranger, when she heard the low rumble of agitated voices in the distance. ‘Lark?’

‘It must be them,’ Finn said, as they all picked up speed, and headed towards the voices. ‘Jackson?’

The talking stopped, and everything was quiet for a moment, before the sound of someone running – twigs breaking, getting closer – reached Amelia’s ears.

‘Lark!’ she cried, as her sister appeared through the bushes, her cheeks blotchy, her eyes red. ‘Thank God.’

‘Amelia,’ Lark said falling into her arms.

‘What’s happened? Is Jackson with you?’

‘Yes!’ he cried, appearing through the bushes. ‘I’m here. We got a bit lost, is all.’

Lark glared at him, and Amelia could feel the tension in her sister’s body. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked, as Lark stepped away from her.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It’s like Jackson said, we got a bit lost, is all.’

*

‘Are you OK, Dad?’ Amelia said, looping her arm through his elbow, once Jackson and Lark were back in their cottage and Finn was making his way to his.

‘Jackson’s a dick.’ He blinked repeatedly. ‘I’d do anything to get that excuse for a man out of our lives. He’s a bloody idiot!’ He took a breath, and looked down at Amelia. ‘Sorry, love. Excuse my awful language. But what was he playing at, leading Lark off course like that? I don’t trust him. Never have done.’

‘I don’t know.’ She was still at a loss to how her mum could have chosen to live with Jackson instead of her dad. Her mum had had low times through the years, but Amelia never saw the cracks in her parents’ relationship – never once saw them argue.

She touched her dad’s arm. ‘It’ll soon be over,’ she said, and realising immediately her words weren’t the best she could have chosen, added, ‘The holiday, I mean.’

‘I know what you mean, love.’ He smiled, and reached into his pocket for the key to the cottage.

As he pushed open the door, she heard the TV blaring out.

‘I’m heading straight to bed,’ she said, walking through the lounge and taking the stairs two at a time, unable to face Thomas and Maddie snuggled on the sofa together.

‘Night, Amelia,’ her dad called up the stairs after her.