‘I don’t think he wants me to touch him.’ I let my hand gingerly hover about an inch from its head.

‘I don’t think he wants to stand here all night watching us sleep, either.’

Eventually, sweating, dishevelled and sporting at least two new bruises, we left Rudolph to enjoy the peace and quiet of the corridor. After insisting that Henry went in the bathroom first (no more surprise roommates loitering in the shower) I quickly changed into my cosy pyjama bottoms and jersey top, and tried distracting myself from the fact that I was sharing a bedroom with my childhood nemesis by checking my phone.

There were messages from my parents, both asking whether we’d arrived safely and hoping that the evening had gone well. I shook my head, unable to resist smiling as I imagined Mum’s response if I told her my sleeping arrangements. Instead I typed a quick reply letting them know that I was fine, and the interview was going okay.

Jed had also sent a message to say that he’d managed to sneak Nana Joy’s scrapbook of press cuttings into his bedroom and while pretending to wrap presents he was going to try to find out what she was doing in the months prior to Dad’s birth.

Any luck?

I waited only seconds before he replied.

Nine months before Dad was born she was in between plays. There’s nothing to say where or what she was doing. Dead end I’m afraid.

I went over Jed’s message while I brushed my teeth. Something was niggling at me, but my exhausted brain couldn’t quite grasp it.

‘What time do you want to set the alarm for?’ Henry asked, once we were both in bed pretending not to feel excruciatingly uncomfortable. ‘Breakfast is from eight until nine, but I’m guessing you’d rather be early.’

That was when I remembered. ‘Dad was early!’

‘What?’ Henry looked up from his phone, understandably confused.

‘Nothing, ignore me. I was thinking about something else. Um, is seven okay?’

I didn’t really listen to his answer, already messaging Jed again.

Dad was six weeks early, remember? Nana Joy has that story about how her waters broke onstage in the middle of her big number. Try a month or two later.

I was lying in the dark, thoughts about Nana Joy and Charis House jostling up against the absurdity of my current situation, when Henry spoke quietly into the darkness.

‘I have to confess, I did not expect to be sharing a room with you again.’

I was starting to recognise the slight rise in tone in his voice that meant he was smiling.

‘Excuse me, didn’t we make a pact never to speak of that night?’

I heard a definite chuckle now.

‘I thought you meant to other people. I hadn’t realised it applied to each other. We both know it happened.’