Lottie found herself sandwiched between Jamie and her princess, the three of them not quite touching, like they were opposing sides of a magnet. When she looked at them to try to grasp their odd behaviour, both of their eyes were firmly focused on the door, as if even looking at her might break some unspoken rule she wasn’t aware of.

What on earth is going on with them?

Lottie remembered the strange blistering she’d seen on Ellie’s ribcage and the odd look in Jamie’s eye. She wanted so badly to call them out right then and there, only now was not the time. Then the door was opening, with Binah rushing in to give them the signal.

‘Welcome back!’ they all called, pulling on the party poppers and spreading confetti and glitter in a colourful explosion.

Standing stiff as statues in the doorway, Lola, Micky and Percy were three ghostly figures, their blank confused stares obscured by streams of coloured paper and ribbon. They didn’t move, and for a white-hot moment Lottie wondered if they’d completely misjudged what they thought would be a good way to welcome them back, until, like a rainbow emerging from the grey, an apple-cheeked smile spread over Lola’s lips and her beaming aura scattered through the air like sugar powder.

‘You guys, you didn’t have to do this.’ Lola’s eyes were glittering, and she squeezed her brother’s hand.

‘We made this for you.’ With one swift motion, Lottie pulled off the cover, revealing a detailed oil painting of Alfred Tompkins surrounded by all his marvellous candy creations, their father immortalized forever in the golden frame. She didn’t need to let anyone know that working on a picture of someone else’s father had been a welcome distraction from thinking of her own.

Binah laughed. ‘She’s being modest. Lottie painted it; we just got it framed.’

‘Your dad was clearly an amazing man, so we wanted to pay our respects however we could.’ Lottie handed the portrait to the twins, delighting in how it made them light up.

‘Come, sit, eat.’ Binah pulled a chair out for them, everyone following suit to take a place round the overflowing table.

‘And let us know if we can help with anything now that you guys, you know –’ Raphael shoved a Florentine in his mouth, the chewy caramel distorting his words – ‘own the biggest confectionary company in the world.’

‘Raph, please, what did I teach you about tact?’ Jamie scolded, only to be met by an impossibly charming shrug, the kind that only someone as unfairly attractive as Raphael could make look endearing.

Percy rolled his eyes but there was humour behind the gesture as he took a seat next to his boyfriend and plated up cakes from the tiered tray.