‘Not always,’ Amelia mumbled in the background, making Sara wonder if there had been a falling-out since the weekend. Then she remembered what her daughter was going through and thought she understood her reticence: she felt humiliated, just as Sara did. Perhaps Chelsea had teased her about the video.

Hailey gave Sara an exasperated look, obviously struggling to know what else to say to persuade them.

‘Hey, girls,’ Sara said.

‘We’re not talking to you,’ Sophia snapped, and Sara’s breath caught in her throat before she forced herself to speak.

‘No, no, please listen. I don’t know what your dad’s told you, but it’s not true. The problem is… well, it’s a misunderstanding, and we need to sort it out. If you go on holiday for a few days, it’ll give us a chance to talk things through.’ She tried to insert a note of reassurance, put a smile in her voice. ‘Hopefully everything will be back to normal when you come home.’

There was silence, then a whispered conversation. Hailey and Sara looked at each other, waited.

‘Okay,’ Sophia said. ‘I hope you’re telling the truth, Mum.’

Sara bit her lip. What were the chances of normality, of her and Matt staying together, after all this? Slim, was the answer. But she needed to buy this time, needed the girls out of the house, then Matt would think he was on his own and might not be quite so security-conscious. There was a chance he might leave his office door unlocked when he went into the house for a break.

‘I’m doing my best for our family,’ she said with conviction, because whatever happened, that was the truth. ‘I love you girls. You kids are my world and I’ve hated not being there with you, and I hate it even more that you’re angry and upset with me.’

‘Love you, Mum,’ Amelia said, voice thick with tears.

‘Me too,’ Sophia echoed, before they said their goodbyes.

The words worked their way into Sara’s heart, soothing the wounds of the last few days. I’m going to make this right for them. I’ve got to.

Later, with arrangements made, Sara and Hailey settled down to lay out everything they knew and make plans for the following day.