I cross the room and open a drawer to check if there is anything in there I could wear – God knows why; I mean, why would there be? – when there is a knock at the door.

‘Laura? Can we come in?’

‘Uh, yes, come in.’ This is my own room, I realize. I can decide who comes in and who doesn’t. Not like the hospital when people knocked but then they always came in whether you liked it or not.

Ellie enters with Karen.

‘I was thinking,’ I say, ‘I should have brought the stuff they lent me at the hospital. I’ve got nothing to wear.’ I blush. I’ve only just arrived – the last thing I want to do is start demanding things.

A look of impatience flashes across Ellie’s face. ‘Never mind. I can – post it on to you or something.’

Karen waves her hand. ‘It’s my fault. I should have got you some basics, but I remember what I was like when I was your age – the absolute last thing I would have wanted would have been my … someone as old as me picking out my clothes!’

She laughs falsely. She was obviously going to refer to herself as my mum and then decided against it. I bet Ellie warned her about not doing that. I can totally imagine her saying something like ‘Let her come to you in her own time.’ Thinking she knows what’s best for me. Not that I can ever imagine thinking of Karen as Mum. I’ve never had a mum, nor felt I’ve needed one. A wave of sadness crashes over me as I think about Dad; it’s so intense that for a second I think I’ll collapse.

‘But if you feel like it and you’re not too tired, we could go shopping today?’ she is still twittering on. ‘I mean, I don’t want to rush you if you’d rather take things at your own pace but we totally cleared the day for you so, whatever you want, it can be arranged! And I’ve been putting some money aside for you over the years – I always believed you’d come back eventually. I prayed for your return every single day. Back when you disappeared our whole church prayed for you. And now our prayers have been answered. Finally.’

I shift uncomfortably. I certainly don’t feel like I’m the answer to anyone’s prayers. I wonder if she will expect me to go to church with her. Dad and I discussed religion a lot, and I decided I am definitely an atheist. Like Dad was.