From downstairs the silence continued, Beth and her parents in grave dispute. But Eva didn’t care about what was happening there. She wanted to stay in this moment for just a little while, the stillness of the bedroom, the calm that was coming over her now as Corinne tenderly combed Eva’s hair with her fingers, her scalp prickling pleasurably with the sensation. Any anger inside her was temporarily deflated, and she felt tired – profoundly wrung-out. Corinne lifted Eva’s hair and then her hand was on Eva’s back, her touch cooling the hot skin between her shoulder blades. Eva closed her eyes and submitted to the touch, the tender press of fingertips, the gentle sweep of palms. A new stillness entered her body that felt like acceptance more than defeat.

When the mobile phone on her desk pinged with a message, she didn’t want to get up and risk breaking the spell. But the possibility that it was Ross itched at her brain, and reluctantly she moved away from Corinne’s stroking hand and went to retrieve her phone. But on the screen, she saw Callum’s name, his message: I meant what I said. I really am sorry. Could you meet me? Please.

A wave of disappointment came over her – that it wasn’t Ross, but also at the complex path she had chosen. How had her life become snared up with a married man? Why couldn’t she have been normal and fallen for a boy her own age with no baggage, no strings attached?

‘It’s Callum,’ she explained, seeing the question on Corinne’s face. She remained sitting on the bed, a still and watchful presence. The feelings perpetually inspired by this girl were ones of irritation and suspicion. But all the fight had gone out of Eva, and besides, she needed a friend.

‘He keeps texting me. Saying he’s sorry. Asking if we can meet and talk.’

‘He wants to go out with you,’ Corinne stated, and Eva shrugged, her eyes averted. ‘And you? What do you want?’

Outside, from the street, came the sounds of Ross and his son. Jo had a new pedal car and they’d been going up and down the street for almost an hour, even though the light had faded, the boy’s excited shrieks cutting through the air, Ross’s cheers of encouragement soaring. Eva turned and watched them, a dull ache settling inside her.

‘Are you going to meet with him?’ Corinne asked.

Eva felt her chin wobbling, tears springing in her eyes.

‘There’s no point. He won’t want me. Not when he knows …’ Her eyes slid away from Corinne’s gaze. Corinne followed them to the pillow.

Part of her knew it was a mistake. But she was so tired. It was a burden too heavy to carry alone.