She looked down at the piece of sodden, ragged tissue she was holding. ‘He doesn’t work at the yard.’

I swallowed. ‘I know.’

‘What do you mean you know?’

‘I know he wasn’t going to the yard.’

Her eyes flick back and forth over my face in confusion. ‘But I remember you telling me that’s where he was. Lots of times.’

I nodded, my throat constricting with guilt.

‘He gives me money, Tamsyn. Cash. Where’s he getting it from? Then some jewellery goes missing from the Davenports’ house?’ She rubs her forehead with a tense, white-knuckled hand. ‘Why are you covering for him?’

Still I couldn’t speak.

‘Tamsyn. Please. I’ve had enough of being lied to! Tell me where he’s getting the money from.’

‘Signing on,’ I whispered. I watched her face crumple with confusion.

‘What?’

‘The dole.’

‘The dole?’

I nodded.

‘But… I don’t understand.’ Her face drained of colour. ‘Why didn’t he just tell me?’

‘He knew how disappointed Dad would have been. You, too. Said Dad would have hated it and called him a sponger and had no respect for him. He said it was just for a bit. Until he found another job. He made me promise not to tell you because he didn’t want you to think badly of him.’

Mum flinched as if I’d hit her.

‘Jago didn’t steal anything.’

Mum stood. Her chair scraped loudly on the linoleum. She was muttering. Her hand tapping her thigh repeatedly.

‘There’s something I need to tell you,’ I said.

‘Not now.’ She turned and walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door. ‘I need to find him.’

‘Mum!’ I called after her. ‘Mum! I need to—’

But she was out the door and gone.

I sat in the empty, silent kitchen and stared at the tin on the top of the fridge. How had it all gone so wrong? How had things changed in such a short time? Only a matter of days before I’d been part of the Davenport family. Part of The Cliff House. It was perfect. But then it all spiralled out of control. Everything caved in. Eleanor told vicious lies about me. I kissed Edie. Got sick. Mum kissed Gareth. Jago screwed Edie in the pool. And I was forbidden to set foot in the one place which made me happy.

Standing there in the kitchen, I was paralysed with desolate loneliness. The ache was acute. Every part of me wanted to get up to the house. I pictured myself walking through the gate. Imagined the calmness that would settle over me.