‘I thought Dad might be picking me up. You know what he’s like about me getting home at a reasonable time!’ She was genuinely amazed that her mum had come to get her. She rarely left the house these days if she didn’t have to. It was something she knew was wrong, but no one would ever say it out loud. It worried her that her mother didn’t go anywhere any more, and it scared her that everyone acted as if it was normal.

Josephine smiled nervously as she pulled away from the kerb tentatively. ‘He was unavoidably detained, as usual! Work stuff. How was your night anyway, darling?’

Jessie laughed with delight. ‘It was a good night, Mum, a right laugh.’

Josephine could hear the pleasure in her daughter’s voice. ‘That’s how it should be at your age.’

Jessie didn’t answer; she was still basking in the night’s events.

‘I thought Natalie needed a lift home?’

Jessie shrugged easily. ‘No, she’s walking home with some of the other girls.’ She wished it was her – she would love to walk home with everyone, exchanging gossip, and talking about the next party on Friday night that they were all looking forward to. Jason Ford had asked her to go with him. But that was never going to happen – she was always dropped off, and then picked up and taken home safely. It was her life, and she had to accept that.

‘By the way, Mum, I’m staying at Natalie’s house on Friday night. We’re going shopping Saturday early. I told her mum it was OK.’

Josephine yawned. ‘’Course it is! We’ll get you picked up when you’re ready to come home.’