I read through the printout on the drive and the day sounds perfect, exactly what I’d be interested in.

‘I spoke to Lola’s new teacher over lunch to see how she’s getting on,’ Claudia says, interrupting my thoughts, and I fold up the piece of paper and place it on top of my bag in the footwell. ‘She said that she’s really quiet but that she’s participating a little bit. Apparently, she comes alive when they do story time at the end of the day, and today she even put her hand up to ask a question.’

‘That’s great. Do you think these sessions have made a difference?’

‘I honestly do. I wouldn’t think that it’s a coincidence that she feels most comfortable in school when books are involved.’

I think of Lola and the sadness in her eyes, and the thought that we could be making a tiny bit of a difference pulls at my heart strings.

We soon settle into Lola’s living room and she shyly says hello to Claudia.

I pick up a book about witches and start to read, and Claudia follows up with a story about an enchanted dinosaur. We try to engage Lola in some way, both of us asking questions about the stories as we go along, and it is an encouraging sign when Lola answers every now and again, but there isn’t that magical transformation that I was really rooting for. I guess part of me wants Claudia to be dazzled by how much progress she’s made, and whilst Lola’s made huge leaps from our first visit, Arnold and I still haven’t succeeded in bringing her completely out of her shell.

When we’ve finished reading for the day, Kate pops her head round the door whilst we’re packing away the books.

‘Lola, did you want to go upstairs and get you-know-what to show Edie before she leaves?’

Lola gives me a look like she’s contemplating it, whatever it is, before she slides off the sofa and hurries up the stairs.

‘How’s it all going, Kate?’ asks Claudia, standing up from her stool.

‘We have some good and some bad days. We’re having slightly less bad days than before so I’m taking that as a small victory. I think it’s helped that she’s back at school and around friends. Occasionally I get glimpses of the niece that I knew before and it makes me happy.’

‘Well, you know that if there’s anything more that the school could do to help.’

‘Thank you, you’ve already done so much. And these visits, I know it might not seem like a lot each week, but she’ll have a little smile on her face for the rest of the evening, and for those few hours she doesn’t seem as sad.’

She goes quiet as the footsteps become louder again on the stairs.