‘Oh no! No, it is completely different for men. Fatherhood does not come with the same baggage; I don’t care what anyone says. They have no understanding of the worry – of the huge burden of guilt we carry around with us.’

Abi watched her daughter getting to her feet and wading unsteadily into the water. Ahead of her, Corinne was advancing into the depths, sweeping water over each of her shoulders before dropping down to immerse her whole body, grace in that one fluid movement, while Beth stood there and watched, shivering.

‘Just because she keeps her thoughts and feelings hidden from you doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you, or that she doesn’t feel loved,’ Val said gently.

Abi felt a lump creep into her throat, her emotions rising suddenly to the surface.

She watched her daughter, pale and shivery, and knew she was trying to pluck up the courage to surrender her flesh to the cold. And then Corinne rose up from the water, droplets pouring and sliding over her skin, and reaching out her hands, she took both of Beth’s in hers. They stood like that for a moment, Corinne’s mouth moving, uttering words that Abi could not hear, her gaze steady and intent. And then she stepped backwards and drew Beth into the water, a gasp rising up into the trees followed by a joyous shout. There was something so tender in that gesture, the lump burst in Abi’s throat and she found tears were flowing hotly down her face.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, leaning down so that she could sweep her wet cheeks with the hem of her dress.

She felt Valentina’s hand coming to rest on her back and realized with embarrassment that her dress was drenched with sweat.

‘You are under so much pressure,’ Val said soothingly. ‘Your work – the stress of your career – and then trying to be a mother to both of your children at this most difficult of ages. You push yourself too hard.’

‘Do I? Sometimes I feel I’m not doing enough.’

‘What more can you do? You are only human,’ Valentina countered vehemently.

Abi managed a watery smile. ‘I don’t know what’s come over me. This past year has been tough. Things with Mark … well, they’re not always easy, especially after his sister died. And then Eva had her exams. And Beth … She was so lonely.’ Clouds moved across her thoughts. Tentatively, she added: ‘Troubled.’

Beside her, she felt Valentina waiting. It was curious, the desire that rose within her now to unburden herself of this information. She had never really discussed what Beth had done with anyone apart from Mark and the therapist they’d sent Beth to see. But something was pushing her to talk, and it didn’t feel strange at all when she turned to Valentina and said:

‘There was an incident last year at the school.’