The words fell unemphatically in the thick, sour-smelling air but the sadness in them weighed down on me. I tried to imagine what life must be like for the two of them, walled up in this tiny flat. I also thought of Jack and Audrey at Turnmill Street and then, finally closing the circle, about Jack and me. I understood that whatever might and whatever would happen from now on, I must stand back and give him room to flourish. Children who don’t have enough light and space around them grow up spindly and lopsided, just like plants deprived of sunlight.

Paul came back and stood beside me. ‘Great relief,’ he murmured in my ear. ‘We should take her straight back home now. Someone will call in later to see Colin.’

I held on tight to Cassie, who was beginning to squirm with impatience. ‘We’ll have to be off,’ I said brightly.

‘Wouldn’t you like a cup of tea?’ Colin’s mother asked, politely but vaguely. Her grip on reality seemed fragile. She didn’t understand who we were and she didn’t want us here, strangers invading her cramped sanctuary.

‘We can’t, this time.’

‘Wait a minute, then.’

She eased past Colin and left the room. He stood at the window, gazing blankly out at the sky as if matters had all got too complicated for him. His mother came back a minute later and handed me a Boots plastic bag, and when I opened it to look inside I saw the red swimsuit and Cassie’s little canvas shoes. ‘You can keep the things she’s wearing. As a present from Colin and me. Doesn’t she look a picture in them?’ Then she lowered her voice. ‘I’m afraid she can’t keep the music box, though. That was one of my Susan’s favourite things.’

‘Thank you,’ I said. From her vantage point on my hip, Cassie gave her wrist-angled wave.

I strapped Cassie into her car seat and once we were all inside, even though it was as hot as a furnace, I checked that the windows were closed and pressed the central locking button. I took some deep breaths and Paul touched my hand.

‘Let’s get her home.’

Penny and Evelyn were waiting on the pavement outside the house. The car hadn’t even stopped before they opened the rear door to reach Cassie.