Her mum’s hallway always looked nice and homey. The carpet was patterned and worn and a purple glass vase with a silk flower display had sat on a slim table for years. Carol’s shoes and slippers were set in a line against the wall.

When Liv’s dad died, her mum had entered a state of shock, unable to think or function properly. Liv had to cook and clean for weeks, battling against her own landslide of emotions and with her mind playing tricks on her. Sometimes, she could swear that her dad was still at home before she remembered he was gone, and that she’d never see him ever again.

Extremely worried about both Carol and Liv, Peggy had invited them to stay with her. Her house was a couple of hundred miles away and, at first, Liv was glad for the change. Her mum needed her sister, and she knew whispers would be rattling around school about her dad, just as they did when another pupil had lost a parent.

Carol lay in Peggy’s spare bedroom in the dark, refusing to eat. The doctor said she was suffering from a deep depression. Their stay with Peggy lasted for so long Liv had to join a new school. The kids pounced on the chance to torment a bereaved new girl, and Liv’s only consolation was Essie’s visit and winning her signed copy of The Moon on the Water.

When Carol and Liv eventually returned home to their bungalow, almost a year had passed. They both tried to blank out the date and event of Grant’s death, choosing to focus on positive aspects of his life instead, such as looking at his favorite books together.

When Liv rejoined her old school, she had grown by two inches and cut her hair short. Different friendship groups had formed, so fitting back in proved difficult.

In the evening, while other kids were hanging out on the local field, sneaking cigarettes and first kisses, Liv stayed at home and read library books with her mum, feeling responsible for her health and happiness. They both liked Maeve Binchy, Rosamunde Pilcher and Essie Starling. The stories slowly helped Carol to find her smile again.

Nevertheless, Liv felt like she’d lost a chunk of herself, of her education and concentration, that could never be recovered. She felt like she’d been climbing a ladder and had slid back down the bottom rung, skinning her shins on the way. She wished her dad was here to stroke her hair and tell her things would be okay.

When Liv turned sixteen, she heard her classmates chattering excitedly about joining the sixth form, or a local college. Liv just wanted to leave school. She struggled to focus on her exams and knew extra money would help out at home. Carol had a couple of cleaning jobs, and Liv thought it was something she could do, too.