When I get out of the interview room, I see Chris sitting on the cold plastic seat in the hallway. He stands up and rushes towards me with his arms outstretched and before I know it they are wrapped around me. I start to cry because I didn’t think I would have this again; I didn’t think I could. I thought by accepting my past and confronting it I would be destroying everything I have.

‘I missed you,’ Chris says. ‘What happened?’

‘I found the girl who went missing. I was the only one who could. I have a lot to tell you, if you want to hear it,’ I say, knowing that once I tell him the truth he may leave me.

A police officer steps out of a doorway and walks over to us.

‘Thank you very much for speaking to us today. Miss Green’s family are over the moon to get her back. Her mother wants to give you a reward.’

‘Oh no, that won’t be necessary,’ I say. If anything, I should be giving Liz Green financial restitution. If I can, when all this is over, I will try to make amends for all the pain my family caused her.

‘We’ll be needing to speak to you again about everything that happened and go over your statement. We’re interviewing the lady who owns the house you found her in. She doesn’t seem quite with it. Did she say anything much to you?’

‘Not much, no,’ I say. Knowing my mother has kept quiet about our connection makes me feel a little better. It may not stay hidden for ever, but for now I am just glad to get the chance to tell Chris on my own terms. Whatever happens after that is out of my hands.

‘We’ll be in touch,’ he tells me, handing me a card. I have already told them how to reach me – that is, if Chris lets me come back home with him. The police officer leaves and we are alone.

‘Where are the kids?’ I ask my husband.

‘Back at the hotel. I booked us a suite; you can move your stuff over later if you want. They’re watching movies on the laptop, so we can go for a drink if you want?’

‘Let’s go for a drive and talk in the car. I think we should be alone.’

We get in the car and he starts driving, I watch the air freshener swinging from the rear-view mirror and the small picture frame with an old picture of Daisy and Lloyd in it.