‘You’re …’ Maddy prompts. Her eyes are searching hers out and Tor blushes.

She says in a hurry, ‘That we’re a couple, but my family … they don’t even know I’m gay.’

‘Why haven’t you told them?’

‘Because …’ Tor doesn’t know how to explain about her relationship with Mike and how her parents will be flabbergasted when they realise it was all a sham. ‘The bottom line is that … that I think they’ll reject me. Judge me.’

‘No, they won’t.’

‘You don’t know them. My mum will be so “disappointed”.’

‘Well, I know anyone who has brought up a girl to become a woman like you must be a good person and want you to be happy. And anyway, a mother always senses when her child is lying and keeping something from them. Well, I always thought I did with Jamie. And what I realise now was that he was keeping the burden of all the pressure I put on him and how unhappy that was making him,’ she says, frowning, as if she’s only just realised this. ‘My point is, if your mother doesn’t already know, then she’ll suspect. I promise you. All she’ll want is for you to be happy and safe. That’s all any mother wants.’

Tor nods as she lets this sink in. She’s so used to seeing her mother mothering Alice that she’s always felt left out, but in her own way, her mother has been supportive. She’s been the one to encourage Tor to follow her path. Plenty of mothers stick their oar in when it comes to their daughter’s choices, but Tor’s has always let her go her own way. Maybe Maddy is right. Maybe her mother is proud. Maybe she feels that her job is done in a way that it’ll never be done with Alice.

It’s been strange tonight witnessing how raw Maddy’s instinct is to find Jamie. Would her mum be the same if Tor was missing? Imagining her mother being hurt brings up a powerful emotion. It’s the same feeling she fears she’ll bring about if she spills the beans about Lotte. But what if Maddy is right and her mum suspects Tor is keeping something from her? Surely that’s even more hurtful?

Finally, it’s time to go home and Tor is glad. Her bones ache, in particular her little finger, where the gnarled knuckle is red. She’s hoping for a dip in the morning and Maddy says she’ll come along too.

Before they part, Tor asks Maddy about Trent.

Maddy shrugs sadly. ‘I guess it’s over.’

‘You don’t sound so sure.’

‘It’s just so sad and messy and I miss him, or at least I miss us. What we were and what we could have become. And then I remember what he’s done and, well … that’s that.’

‘Yep, well, life is messy. You only have to work in a homeless charity to understand that nothing is ever just black or white. It’s just a question of recognising the bright moments.’