‘Oh, Dad,’ I say, softening. ‘She’s not in Scotland.’ But there is no strength in my words. Despite the whole area being searched at the time, my mind still wanders back there. What if someone hid her underground, or deep in one of the many caves along the shoreline? We’d combed the area for hours, the police, dogs, and people from the local villages giving their support. But had we really covered every inch of the Drummondale House estate? I sigh deeply, reach over, and close my hand over Dad’s.

Truth is, I’ve been through every possibility. At first I’d clung to the hope she took off. But when Mum died and Lark never appeared – never said goodbye – hope petered away, and lately I’d wondered if we’d missed something in Scotland too.

Dad grabs a clump of tissues from a box on the table and divides them between us.

‘I need to do something,’ he says, dashing a tissue across his eyes. ‘Since your mum’s been gone, all I can think is what if we missed something, so we thought we’d head up there.’

‘We?’

He nods. ‘Thomas and Maddie are coming for support.’ He looks away, as though he doesn’t want to see my reaction.

I feel my eyes widen. ‘Maddie is your support?’

‘Not exactly. Thomas is my support, and your brother needs her. You know that.’

My jaw clenches. ‘Bloody Maddie. I curse the day she became Thomas’s carer.’

He shakes his head. ‘Please don’t say that, love.’ He places his hand over mine once more. ‘You sound so bitter.’

I cover my face with my hands. ‘She should never have said those things about me on her vlog, Dad.’

‘I agree, it was thoughtless—’

‘Thoughtless? She made me look—’

‘I know, love, but she’s young. She made a silly mistake, and you needed someone to vent your anger on. She’s sorry, Amelia. The post has gone now. Please let it go.’

But I’m not sure I can let it go.

‘I’ve rented two of the cottages,’ he says. ‘If you feel you’re up to it, there’s room for a small one.’

I look up and shake my head. I’m not sure I can face going back there.

‘No.’ He shakes his head too. ‘I didn’t think so. Although, it could be a chance to talk to Maddie – lay your demons to rest, as they say.’

‘I quite like my demons full of energy, thanks very much.’ It comes out snarky, and I’m not even sure of the point I’m trying to make.

He looks down for a moment, and then up and into my eyes. ‘And we might find something that leads to Lark.’

I so want to embrace his hope.