‘But it was mention of my parents that really put the cat among the pigeons,’ I explained. ‘I asked what he thought I should do if they got in touch and . . . well,’ I said, nodding at my arm, ‘he went ballistic.’

‘Does he know about the email then?’

‘No,’ I told her. ‘Having read it, I decided that it would be best not to say anything. What Mum wrote was shocking and I dread to think how he would have reacted if he’d known about it.’

‘Go on.’

I glanced up at the clock.

‘I don’t want to make us late, Dolly,’ I told her, ‘especially today.’

I might have been feeling heaps better for sharing, but I wasn’t so selfish that I wanted to ruin her day.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said. ‘And besides, we won’t be late if you hurry up and tell me.’

I could do better than that. At school I had printed Mum’s email off for safekeeping. I watched as Dolly scanned the pages, her eyes growing wider with every word.

‘So,’ she said, her voice trembling a little, ‘Jonathan was telling your parents that you hated them but that he’d try and do his best to talk you around and he was telling you . . .’

‘That Mum and Dad hated him and were nasty to him every time they were on their own with him.’

‘But what’s all this about therapy?’ Dolly frowned.

‘He told Mum and Dad that I was having counselling, that some of what I said might not always make sense, which I guessed was a precaution on his part, and eventually that the therapist recommended I shouldn’t see them. He fed me so many lies I snapped and told him to tell them I didn’t want further contact with them.’

I don’t know why I hadn’t questioned why he had set himself up as the go-between before. I supposed he’d made such a good job of convincing both me and my parents that he had our best interests at heart. I would seriously have to think about nominating him for an Oscar because his acting skills were truly outstanding.

‘And this letter from your mum?’

‘He never gave it to me,’ I confirmed. ‘So, I have no idea what it said.’

‘Well I’ll bet she never said that she was pleased you lost the baby.’

I nodded in agreement.

‘As soon as Jonathan knew my relationship with Mum and Dad was rocky, he started chipping away at it.’

‘I can’t believe it,’ Dolly choked.

‘Once I’d told him to tell them I was severing all contact he knew he’d won. His mission to create our exclusive club of two was accomplished, although he did say we’d be making friends and entertaining when we moved.’