‘Diane is an incredible woman,’ says Michael, eyes clouding. ‘My better half, as they say. I’ve put her through a lot. But she’s always stuck by me.’

‘For better or for worse, Michael Ray.’

‘Wowsers.’ Michael places chubby hands on my shoulders. ‘I can’t believe you’re here. This is a dream come true. Listen, are you tired? Hungry? Have you … did you fly from somewhere to get here?’

‘I didn’t fly from anywhere,’ I say. ‘I took the bus.’

‘From where?’

‘Taunton Wood.’

Michael turns to Diane, hands falling from my shoulders. ‘Jesus Christ. She didn’t …’

‘It’s so near to us. Practically down the road.’

‘Do you live on a lot of land there, by any chance?’ Michael asks. ‘A big patch to yourselves? I can’t imagine Lorna wanting to live cheek by jowl with other people. Not with everything she’s trying to hide.’

‘Yeah, we have some land. I mean, nothing like what you have. But yes.’

‘Funny to think of Lorna living in the British countryside,’ says Michael. ‘What has she got? One of those old-fashioned houses with the quirky English names. Back O’ Beyond or Forty Winks. Who’d have thought that would be her scene?’

‘We live on an old farm. It’s called Iron Bridge.’

‘I bet it’s like Fort Knox.’

‘You can say that again. Mum has more security than you do.’

‘That woman,’ says Diane. ‘Just when you think she won’t stoop any lower—’ She notices me then and her pink lips snap shut.

‘Lorna never could let go,’ says Michael. ‘It makes sense, when you think about it. We should have guessed.’

Diane shivers, despite the warm day. ‘For her to be so near, she must have been watching us this whole time. It gives me the creeps.’

‘It’s okay,’ says Michael. ‘It’s all going to be okay. We’re starting again, right? Liberty and I have the rest of our lives from this moment on.’

‘Lorna told Liberty you’re some kind of monster, Michael,’ says Diane, shaking her head. ‘Tried to poison her mind, like she did with everyone else. Liberty – don’t you listen to a word of it. I’ve been with this man for twenty years. He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I know. Too big sometimes. He lets people take advantage. Don’t get me wrong, he’s far from perfect. I’ve had cause to hit him with my handbag on more than one occasion. But the shit that woman says about him … and Lorna is still at the Nazi propaganda, Michael. All these years later.’

‘I don’t believe everything I hear,’ I insist. ‘Not even from my mother. I can make up my own mind.’