There is a small TV here in this tiny room. I can get a few channels, and watch endless repeats of Friends. It no longer makes me laugh.

I’ve given up shouting and screaming. Only you hear me. Only you answer my calls.

I lift my heavy head, thump it against the wall, and smooth my hand over Misty’s silky, grey fur hoping he’ll stay for a while.

Chapter 17

Present Day

Amelia

Exhausted, and freezing to the tips of my fingers and toes, I shuffle out of my damp coat, tug off my snow-caked boots, and attempt to rub life back into my feet. Dad looks up from his Kindle, his face set in a frown.

‘What’s up?’ But I know exactly what’s irking him. He didn’t want me to go sledging. He thinks it’s too frivolous when we are meant to be here looking for clues that could lead us to Lark.

‘Come by the fire, Amelia. You’re freezing.’ His tone is blunt, sad. He looks back at his novel.

I rub my hands together and approach the wood burner. And once I’ve warmed up to the point where I can feel my extremities again, I turn my back on the fire, and stare steadily at my dad on the sofa. He looks like a once-plump teddy bear that’s had the stuffing knocked out of him. ‘You’re annoyed with me, aren’t you?’ I say. Even at my age I hate it when he’s upset with me.

‘No.’ His eyes stay fixed on his Kindle.

‘You’re pissed off because I went sledging, when I should have been searching for … for a pipe dream.’

‘A little, maybe.’ He looks up and meets my eye. ‘But I know there’s nowhere to look. Especially now we’re buried under a mountain of snow. Coming here was a mistake. I know that now.’ He puts down his Kindle, leaving it on, the large text of his sci-fi thriller glowing.

‘Let’s go home,’ I say, twiddling my damp hair around my finger. I can think of nothing I want more. ‘We could try the roads. Surely if we go slowly, we …’ I stop. He’s shaking his head, his forehead furrowed, as it used to when I was in my teens trying to convince him to order a takeaway, or to let me stay out after midnight.

‘I want to go home too, Amelia,’ he says. ‘But I called the local police when you were sledging, to ask how the roads are. They said we’re stuck here for now at least. Snowploughs haven’t got this far yet, and with more snow expected, even the emergency services are struggling.’ He lowers his head. Sounds defeated.