A few minutes later and the door on Ruby’s side of the car was opened by the police woman. Ruby’s legs shook as she stepped onto the pavement, pulling her jacket closed against the wind and sleet. A bit farther along the road, the big black car also had its door open, and she could see Leonie being lifted out. Ruby wanted to rush over and grab her, take up the child and run, but she was aware of the police and the social worker watching them. She took a step closer and saw the toddler look up, recognize her, try to pull her hand away from Diane’s.

“Mamma Bee!” shouted Leonie, struggling against the woman holding her.

Ruby couldn’t bear it a moment longer. She ran forward and lifted Leonie up, hugged her tight.

“Mamma’s here, baby,” she said, “I’m so sorry.”

“Mamma,” said Leonie. “Mamma here. Mamma gone.” Ruby hoped that only she could interpret what Leonie was trying to tell her: “Mamma was here, Mamma’s gone.”

“I know, I’m so sorry, my love. I’m back now. I won’t let you go again. Not ever.”

She covered Leonie in kisses, then pulled back a little to see the child’s face. They smiled at each other. “Bee,” said Leonie. Or at least, that’s what the word Ruby sounded like in Leonie’s mouth.

Would they pick up on that? “She loves insects. Don’t you, baby?”

“Mamma Bee,” said Leonie, and giggled. That’s what Constance had called Ruby, in front of the baby, almost from day one. Here’s Mamma Ruby, come to give you a cuddle. As soon as Leonie could speak the words, Ruby was Mamma Bee.

The child still had smears on her face from whatever it was they’d fed her, some sugary crap. The stuff they made those decorations out of didn’t even count as chocolate.

“You’re all dirty, sweetie. We need to get you a wipe.” She licked a thumb and rubbed at the chubby cheeks. She looked around for a baby wipe to clean her, but couldn’t see the changing bag.

The shopkeeper stepped forward. “Is this yours?”

“Thank you,” said Ruby, taking the bag that Constance had packed that morning with Leonie’s things—enough nappies for a day or two, a change of clothes, a couple of toys.

“It was on the pavement outside the shop.” He frowned slightly, as if he couldn’t work out why that might be a strange place for the bag to be.