The doctor took hold of my hand. ‘Tamsyn, you need to sleep now. The antibiotics will work quickly, but you need sleep. Your body’s exhausted from fighting the infection.’

He stood. Spoke to my mother. The two of them silhouettes through my half-closed eyelashes. ‘Double dose now. Wake her for one before you go to bed. Then four times a day after food for the next seven days. If the temperature climbs any higher I want you to take her straight to Treliske. Don’t hesitate. Keep the fluid intake up and give her only light food – chicken soup is good. She’s to stay in bed for at least five days. On no account let her get up. And no visitors other than the family. It’s important she rests. That infection is bad, another day or two and we’d have sepsis on our hands. We could have lost her…’

I must have drifted off to sleep because I was woken by Mum sitting on the edge of my bed with a glass of water and a pill in her hand. ‘Tamsyn,’ she whispered. ‘Wake up, love. You have to take this.’

I opened my mouth and allowed her to put her hand behind my neck to support my head. She put the capsule on my tongue then the water to my lips. I swallowed the pill and collapsed back on the pillow.

‘A tattoo?’ she said. ‘I can’t believe you’d do something so stupid. Scar your body like that. Put your life at risk as well. It was that bloody Edie Davenport, wasn’t it? I know it was her. The whole family is bad news. Why did you let her do that to you?’

She straightened my duvet. Passed her hand over my forehead. Stroked the side of my face. Whispered words into my ear. Then she stood and I was vaguely aware of her folding clothes, tidying things in my room, drawing the curtains.

I closed my eyes. My mind floated and sleep wrapped itself around me…

Moments later the door opened and Edie stood in the doorway. She was a dark silhouette with the light behind her. She held something out to me.

What is it?

A tape. For you. Because I love you. It’s called The Cliff House and I chose the songs because they remind me of the house so you can always feel like you’re there. So you can be close to your father. So you can have a home again.

She smiled.

I know how much you love the house.