I am the one forced to break the silence. “We’d love you to, sweetie, but your mum and I have things to talk about.”

Camilla throws me a grateful look. She has no idea that I’m telling the truth.

“Plus, Granny and Grandad are looking forward to seeing you,” Camilla says.

She’s a good liar and she does it well by focusing on a true fact (her parents adore Louise) and omitting the truth, which is that she is putting spending time with her lover before her daughter’s wishes. I will never be a selfish mother. That’s one of the problems with people like Camilla; because she fell pregnant with such ease, she has assumed that being a mother is a right, not a gift. She’ll learn.

I give Louise an understanding look. She and I have grown even closer these past few days. I hope she understands that I have no choice in this instance. She gives me a trusting smile, which is no doubt helped by Emily insisting that she won’t get in the car unless Louise comes, too.

“She’s my new big sister,” she says.

I give Emily a huge smile of encouragement. Louise has been such a positive influence, not just on Emily, but on the whole family dynamic.

For a freaky moment, I think that Emily winks at me, but of course she didn’t. It’s just my nerves at how far I may need to go to force the truth out about what really happened on board that boat in Ibiza.

I kiss everyone goodbye and let Camilla wave them off. As she does so, I message Greg and ask him if there’s any way he could delay his arrival until tomorrow.

I’d rather you didn’t let on to Camilla that I’ve asked. I feel we need some girlie

(I can’t think of a better word right now.)

time alone. I think it’s what we need to sort out our past differences. However, I do completely understand if it’s not possible.

He responds almost immediately with a thumbs-up emoji. It makes me think that he wasn’t that fussed about coming anyway.

Camilla’s phone beeps not a minute later. Greg’s name flashes up on her screen before disappearing. I can’t read it all, it disappears too quickly, but he’s gone along with my request, no questions asked.

I go upstairs and wait for Camilla to digest the news that she and I have the next twenty-four hours with only each other for company. The quiet of the house without the others is already beginning to unnerve me. Yet, I must see this through. I silently work through my options.

Thirty-Three

As I walk downstairs, clutching the metal railing attached to the wall, I re-rehearse what I’m going to say. Camilla is on the sofa, feet curled up beneath her thighs, flicking through a magazine she clearly has zero interest in.

“Greg is delayed,” she says.

“I know. It’s my fault,” I say.

She puts down the magazine and looks up. “What do you mean?”