“The North,” mused Lulu. “It gets better, doesn’t it, Emma?”

“Islington is north of Battersea,” Sophie informed her with dignity. “And I do a really good Yorkshire accent, actually, Uncle Jim taught me.”

“Sophie, that’s not right,” said Fee. “If this Mrs. Powell only wanted one tenant, she had every right to say so, and you should have respected that.”

“I know.” Sophie hung her head in penitence. “I’m a very bad girl, and a disgrace to my parents, who tried to teach me good values in spite of myself.” She brightened. “But you’ll be able to have another go on me now, won’t you, when I move back in.”

“Move back in?” said Fee. “Sweetie, there’s nowhere for you to move back into.”

“Course there is,” said Sophie. “I know my room’s gone, but what’s wrong with the top floor?”

“Don’t you remember? Lulu’s room hasn’t been safe to sleep in since the storm. The ceiling’s about to fall down at any moment, and we’re just hoping that Kevin can find time to come and repair it before it goes completely. He’s a busy man these days, but he’s so good we don’t want to ask anyone else.”

“Good, then I’ll take Emma’s room. I always wanted it anyway.”

“Honey,” said Fee. “We have a lodger.”

There was a pause.

“Have we?” said Sophie.

“Man called Tom?” said Lulu. “American scholar? Tall and sort of quiet, keeps himself to himself?”

“Him?” said Sophie. “Is he still here? I thought he went back to America.”

“No, he’s here,” said Fee. “He is very quiet, mind.”

“Oh,” said Sophie.

There was a silence around the table.

“Maybe we could pull out the sofa bed in the living room,” said Fee.

“You’d hate that,” said Sophie. “I’ll think of something.”

“Well, it’s there if you need it,” said Fee.

“It’s okay,” said Sophie. “I’ll think of something.”

There was more silence.

“You could live with us for a while,” said Charlie.

“Charlie!” said Lulu. “I will kill you. Of course she can’t.”

“Well, if she’s got nowhere else to go. And we do have the spare bedroom.”

“You don’t know her. She’s awful. She leaves her stuff everywhere and borrows your clothes without asking.”

“I don’t borrow your clothes,” said Sophie quickly. “They’re just sad. Charlie has some nice stuff, though.”

“You see! She hasn’t even moved in yet.”

“But I’d ask her first, because she’s a nice person, not a horrible sister.”

“Charlie, you can’t do this.” Lulu looked at Charlie and shook her head firmly. “You’re my friend, not some one-woman flophouse for poverty-stricken Atwater women. She can’t afford to pay you any rent, you know.”

“You don’t pay rent,” said Sophie.

“Number one: Charlie is my friend, not yours. Number two: I pay what I can. And number three: I do all the cooking, which is my contribution to the household.”

“I can cook,” said Sophie, causing much merriment to her sisters.

“I can,” said Sophie. “I’ve learned this last year. Mom, make them stop being so mean to me.”