Her eyes fill with tears. ‘I didn’t mean to scare her.’

‘I know, love, I know.’ I reach down and Casey takes my hand so I can pull her up. ‘And I’m sure your mother knows, too. She’ll just be happy you’re OK.’

Except I don’t think Casey is OK. And how could she be, with everything she’s had thrown at her?

‘I’ll go back in the jeep, I guess. But I won’t talk to DL. I am never going to talk to him again.’

Chapter 43: Dan

I’m on the phone to Angelica as I run towards Gemma and Casey. I can’t see her face yet, but she doesn’t look injured.

My daughter is safe.

‘She seems all right, Angelica,’ I say. ‘Not hurt or anything.’

‘Oh God. Oh God, thank you. Bring her back now, please, as fast as you can.’

For a moment I wonder if this awful fear we’ve shared could make everything OK again – with Angelica, with Casey, with Gemma. But when I’m in touching distance, Casey recoils from me. I remember that first day, at the penthouse, how wary we were of each other, and how far we’ve come. But now she’s even further away.

‘Don’t worry,’ I say. ‘I’m not going to hug you. But I’ve got your mum here on the phone and she needs to talk to you.’

And my hand brushes against Casey’s as she takes the handset, and I wonder if it’s going to be the last time we ever touch. Angelica will make sure Casey never trusts me again as a result of my stupid lie. And Gemma? Well, she’s already told me she wants nothing more to do with me.

I turn back to my daughter, whose face crumples as soon as she hears Angelica’s voice.

‘Oh, Mum, I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry.’

Gemma’s in the front, Casey’s in the back, cuddling Bear. It’s a version of what I wanted – us all together again – but the tense silence in the jeep shows how short-lived it’s going to be.

I turn into the underground car park, but there’s a BMW in the second penthouse space. I block it in. You’re going nowhere, sunshine.

Gemma gets out and hugs Casey. ‘You’ve scared us all, sweetheart. Please don’t do that again. Call me, OK. Any time.’

Casey stays rigid in her arms. ‘I’m fine.’

‘I’ve got to say goodbye now, but good luck tomorrow. I hope your results are the best they can be.’

Casey’s mouth purses. She says nothing. But just as Gemma begins to let her go, Casey grips tighter and I can see she’s struggling to say goodbye.

‘We should go up. Your mum needs to see you in one piece,’ I whisper.

‘Is she angry?’ Casey asks.

‘Not with you.’

When Gemma tries to pull away again, Casey resists, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘I want Gemma to come up too – she found me.’

So we step into the lift and it’s a squeeze, and Bear’s body goes rigid with tension as we go up, and I think, Yeah, me too, mate.