Being back in the library made me think about the place. I’d hate it to close down. If it wasn’t for the library I’d never have met Maggie or got to know Farah – not that either of those relationships was going particularly well. There was also something else. The library had somehow renewed my connection to Mum. When I was there I got little slivers of memories of her. Sometimes it was the waft of the pages of a new book, not that I’m a book sniffer or anything but there’s something about that smell that reminds me of Mum. I remember her reading to me here and being excited about the story but also feeling safe and cosseted. The library and reading had been our thing and now I was reconnecting with books I was kind of reconnected with her. Whatever it was it felt better and I didn’t want to lose it.

Things were uncomfortable with Farah but at least we were talking again even if it wasn’t like before. I was dying to know about her and Kemp but that was the last thing I could ask her. It bothered me more than I wanted to admit that she was hooking up with that goon but there was nothing I could do about it.

It took me a while to get all the tweets out. Maggie left to catch her bus but Christine waited and locked up after me. I had hoped Farah would wait too and walk back with me but she said she had to go. I walked home on my own. There weren’t many people about – a few in the chippy and the pub. That was all. When I opened the front door I realised Dad hadn’t left for work yet. I checked my watch. I should have hung around at the library for a few more minutes and I would have missed him. I wasn’t being mean; I just didn’t want to be here when he looked at the bike.

‘Hiya,’ he said. He was in the kitchen putting some things in his bag and he turned his back to me and hurried to complete the task. ‘You all right?’ he asked over one shoulder.

I stayed in the hallway. ‘Um. Not really. I got knocked off my bike today.’ It was still my bike even though we both used it.

He left the bag and came to the doorway. He looked concerned and I was pleased to see it. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘Bashed my leg up a bit but otherwise I’m okay.’

His concern deepened. ‘And the bike?’

‘I got it fixed.’ The relief spread across his features. ‘Well, Maggie got someone to fix it. It’s not perfect but it’s better than it was. I left you a message.’ I pointed to the note on the hallstand where I’d left it.

‘Sorry, I didn’t see that.’