‘So you see,’ Gwyneth says to Amber after she finishes telling her what had happened, ‘it was my fault. I fell asleep, and you couldn’t get back inside as the door swung shut. You ended up somehow getting out of the garden and getting lost in the blizzard.’

‘You were just a kid,’ Viv says to Gwyneth as Amber stares at the cousin she never knew she had, blinking in shock.

‘I shouldn’t have assumed you could look after Amber that day,’ Rita says. ‘You needed your own time too.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Amber asks her mum.

‘We didn’t want anyone to know,’ Rita replies. ‘We were worried Gwendolyn would get into trouble with the police or something.’

‘So instead you sent me away,’ Gwyneth said. Lumin clutched her hand, standing shoulder to shoulder with her mother.

‘Not because of that,’ Viv says, going up to Gwyneth, eyes pleading. ‘I’d never have sent you away for that. You were so wild after, going to parties, getting drunk … and worse,’ she added, eyes flickering over to Lumin then away again. ‘I think the guilt of what happened just ate you up inside and you reacted in the only way a teenager knows: by rebelling.’

‘We were worried for you,’ Rita says. ‘Then your dad suggested it might be a good idea for you to work at his sister’s hotel in London for the summer, get you away from that crowd you were hanging around with.’

‘Where is Dad?’ Gwyneth asks.

‘We’re not together any more, he lives in Worthing,’ Viv explains. ‘But we can call him. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you. Do you understand now though, Gwen? It was just supposed to be six weeks. But then you disappeared!’ She lets out a sob. ‘Do you forgive me?’

Gwyneth stares at her mother and Amber can see the battle inside.

‘Mum,’ Lumin says. ‘Say something.’

‘I need time,’ Gwyneth says. ‘There’s so much to process.’

‘You’re telling me,’ Amber says.

Gwyneth looks at her. ‘I hope you can forgive me?’

Amber face flickers with pain as she rubs her bad hand.

‘She didn’t mean it,’ Lumin says. ‘And do you realise, this all means we’re related!’

‘And you’re my granddaughter,’ Viv says, shaking her head in shock.

‘Why are you here, Lumin?’ Gwyneth asks, turning to her daughter.

Lumin looks down at the icy pebbles. ‘I don’t know. I can’t remember.’

Viv explains all that’s happened to Lumin and Gwyneth’s eyes widen. ‘My God. That’s terrible. You must have come here to find my family. Your family. You thought I wouldn’t ever come …’

‘… so I took it into my own hands,’ Lumin finishes for Gwyneth.