He nodded and she left them to it. A fleeting thought crossed her mind as she went to her room to shower and change quickly before fixing breakfast for the three of them: was this it now? Was he back with them? She forced herself to let it go. There was no time limit on these things. They’d have to talk later. Last night they’d both said they loved each other, but she had yet to work out if it was because of the gap of loneliness being filled up, or if it was real. She didn’t know.

She tied her hair up and ran the shower and stretched her aching body. Running around the mountain on Monday night had taken its toll, but a decent meal last night and a good sleep seemed to have given her a boost. That and the attention. The steam from the hot water began to clear her nose and she felt a little refreshed.

Downstairs, she started coffee, having bought a replica of the machine in the office because she realised she couldn’t live without it, and cracked eggs into a bowl. The kitchen was tidy and a load of dirty baby clothes and linen spun in the washer. Johnny really was trying his best to get into her good books. She smiled.

Notices began popping up on the team WhatsApp, which was kept to the five of them in her professional circle. All of them were able to get to Eden House this morning, despite the snow. She knew that Rob had slept there, and that Kate was in Keswick so the A66 would be clear. Emma and Dan were less specific and Kelly couldn’t help raising her eyebrows. Emma had mentioned a hotel in Penrith.

She popped in some toast and scrambled the eggs in butter. By the time Johnny came down with Lizzie, she was ready to finish her coffee, share a quick breakfast and go. She kissed them both and headed out.

‘I dug some tracks for the car,’ Johnny said.

She stared at him. ‘When in hell did you do that?’ she asked.

‘Lizzie was awake at six. I didn’t want to disturb you,’ he said.

Outside, her feet crunched in the deep snow and she could see cars were queuing already to get across the bridge. She got in and set up her hands-free unit. If it was going to be a long journey, then at least she could catch up before the brief at Eden House. First she called Kate, who updated her on the two schoolgirls.

‘It would seem that both mothers assumed they were at the other’s house. Until anyone checked, they were both happy to believe that, even though it’s a school night and they have a history of bunking off,’ Kate said.

‘So where are they?’ Kelly asked.