‘And then Mum stopped you,’ Heather said with a sob. ‘I saw it all. I was little but I saw it all.’ She turned to her mother. ‘You screamed at Dylan, told him if he loved his family, he’d wouldn’t try to save her. You held him back, Mum!’

Mairi shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself. They all went quiet and I looked at each of them, letting the secret they’d harboured sink in. They hadn’t killed Eleanor but still they felt responsible for her death.

‘Daddy!’ A scream cut through the silence. We all turned towards the hallway to see Alfie pointing to the front door, eyes filled with fear. I let out a gasp. The floor-to-ceiling curtains either side of the front door were alight, fire rapidly spreading up them.

Everyone sprang into action.

‘The extinguishers, they’re in the kitchen!’ Dylan cried to Cole as the fire reached the wooden banisters at the top of the stairs. ‘Glenn, get everyone out.’

Glenn went to pull me outside but I yanked my arm away from him. ‘Where’s Lumin?’ I asked.

Dylan froze. ‘She was here a few moments ago!’

‘She went to the toilet upstairs,’ Alfie said in a tearful voice.

We all looked at the banister, which was now being ravished by angry orange flames.

I went to run to the stairs but Dylan stopped me, looking me in the eyes. ‘I’ll get her.’

‘No, no, no, I have to!’ I cried.

‘I will get her,’ he said in a calm voice. ‘Go out with the others. Trust me.’

I looked into his eyes. I did trust him. Hadn’t he just told me the secret he’d harboured all these years?

I ran outside, turning once to see Dylan run up the stairs, terror filling me as I saw the flames spread across the landing, the very landing my daughter was on … and now Dylan too.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Amber

Audhild Loch

23 December 2009

Lumin and Amber walk through the snow towards the farmhouse. Lumin suggested going over the iced lake as it would be quicker that way but something stopped Amber. They’d taken enough risks as it was; she didn’t want to put them in further danger. And anyway, there was no rush. So instead they take the longer route around the loch, snow falling heavier with each step they take. When Lumin gazes up the sky, she suddenly looks young, like a child.

‘They are actual snowflake shapes,’ she says in wonder, staring at one on her gloved finger.

‘Hmm, yes. You’ll find that with snowflakes.’

She narrows her eyes at Amber in mock anger. ‘Ha ha.’