‘I was good at my job and it paid well, but on the road, Megan started pinching booze backstage from as early as thirteen, and I had no clue. She technically left school at sixteen and came on the road with me full time, wanting to learn about the business, but that environment wasn’t good for her and soon the booze became her life. She wouldn’t listen to me when I told her how booze killed her mother, she just rebelled even more.

‘That’s why I gave up the job and moved here. I brought her with me, but the situation has got worse, she’s blaming me for leaving her friends behind, she can’t even hold down a job, due to drink. The boat job is perfect, it’s a steady income, and I’m off the road and can keep a closer eye on Megan. But that’s proving rather difficult when she gives me the run-around, and that’s exactly what she did today. That’s why I was late for work.’

‘What happened this morning?’ asked Ella.

‘Today, she should have gone into rehab for four weeks. Between myself and her counsellor, she finally acknowledged that she has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and I managed to secure a place at the Lodge for her, but then I woke up and she’d gone AWOL. She’s stolen money from me, my iPad has gone, and I spent all morning looking for her and lost track of time.’

‘And you’ve not heard from her since?’

Roman shook his head. ‘I’ve rung everyone I know and no one has seen her. Usually I would have heard something by now from someone.’

‘So what can we do?’

‘We?’

‘Exactly that, we – a problem shared and… and I really don’t know what to say. We’ve both been through the mill, but what I would suggest is, be open with Flynn. Tell him what’s going on. He’s not going to judge you, and you need that job. Then we’ll make a plan to find Megan.’

Roman didn’t speak. He picked up the ring and the photograph and walked over to the dresser. For a second he stared at the ring in his hand, then placed it safely back in a drawer alongside the photograph.

‘I will talk to Flynn. I suppose I felt ashamed – I wasn’t in control and I felt a failure. I love Megan so much and she reminds me a lot of her mother, and all I want to do is protect her – which is ironic, really, when it was me who put her in an environment that was laden with booze.’

‘You were just trying to survive, be a single father, earn a salary with a job that you loved.’

‘I’m so sorry, Ella,’ Roman sat back down next to her.

‘You have nothing to be sorry for.’