Then she picked up another. One wasn’t going to be enough.

Eight Years Earlier: Thursday, 1 July 2010

1

She heard the scraping sound. She took a deep breath. Seb’s third birthday was coming up. She wasn’t sure of the exact date – there were some gaps in the calendar – but it was close and she wanted to celebrate it. He didn’t have any of the things he should have had. No presents, no party with his friends, no cake. The only saving grace was that he didn’t know what he was missing. Seb was only three, so he had no idea what birthdays were. He would, though, as he got older, and so Maggie was determined to make the day as special as she could.

So she was going to ask the man for a few things. Candles. A cake. Maybe a toy. She would beg him if she had to.

It’s your birthday soon, she told him, when they woke up. You’ll be three. You’re getting to be such a big boy. I’m so proud of you.

What’s a birthday? he said.

The day you were born. You came out of Mummy’s tummy.

He looked at her stomach. I was in your tummy?

I grew you in there.

Oh. Why did I come out?

You had to. And the day you did was your birthday. Three years ago. She paused. On birthdays you get presents. And I have a present for you.

What is it?

A wish.

What’s a wish?

It’s when you ask for something and you get it. You might get it. What would you like, most of all?

He thought for a while.

To stay here with you, Mummy.

She had been worried about giving him a wish, since it would almost certainly not be granted. She could not provide toys or sunshine or a swim in a lake. It was a bitter irony that he had wished for the one thing that would actually come true.

Anyway, now she wanted to get him something more tangible. A real present.

The door opened, and the man came in. Seb was sitting on the end of the mattress.

‘I want to ask something,’ Maggie said.

He frowned. ‘Go ahead.’

‘It’s Seb’s birthday soon. He’ll be three, and—’

‘It’s today.’

‘Today?’

‘Yes. That’s why I’m here.’

Maggie stopped. What did he mean, that’s why he was here? To celebrate? Give Seb a gift? Surely not. She was surprised he knew it was Seb’s birthday, never mind bringing him a present.

‘You have something for him?’

He shook his head and held up his hands to show they were empty.

‘No. I’ve come for him.’

‘What do you mean, you’ve come for him?’

‘He’s three now. It’s time he left.’

Her mouth dried up. ‘Left what?’

‘Left here.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The time has come.’