‘Wait …’ He holds up a hand, palm out, as I move to stand up and hug him. ‘There’s something else I need to say. Dad. I … um … I just wanted to say sorry. I …’ His gaze drops to the floor and he swallows. ‘I was out of order. I’m sorry. I just … I was angry and …’

‘It’s okay, son.’ Mark steps over the suitcase and crosses the bedroom. ‘I understand.’

Hug him, I urge silently. Please just hug him. But only one of Mark’s arms reaches for his son.

‘You look after your mum,’ he says as he grips Jake’s upper arm and gives it a squeeze. ‘I’ve got to go.’

He turns to look at me. ‘I’ll be back on Sunday night. Give me a ring if anything happens. I’m only in Gloucester.’

‘Of course,’ I say. ‘We’ll be fine. Won’t we, Jake—’

But our son has already slipped away into the shadows.

Chapter 34

‘So are we ready for a bit of vampire action then?’ Liz announces as she bursts into the living room, a DVD under her right armpit, a bottle of Prosecco in each hand and two glasses woven through her fingers. One bottle is already open and the wine sploshes out from the neck and runs down her hand as she throws herself at the sofa. It’s 6.30 p.m.

‘You’ve started early.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ She pulls a face. ‘Switched shifts and I’m knackered. Oh, pizza!’ She points at the open box on the rug in front of the TV. ‘Can I have a slice?’

‘Sure. Jake’s having his in his room and I’m not hungry.’

‘Is he not joining us then?’

‘No. I think he’s watching something on his laptop.’

‘Kira?’ She crams a slice of pizza into her mouth, poking a stray piece of pepperoni between her lips before it falls to the floor.

‘Out.’ I haven’t told her about what happened earlier.

‘Shame. Though she’s probably seen it before.’

‘How’s Caleb?’

‘Out with his boyfriend.’ She smiles as she slips back onto the sofa. ‘God, I need this.’ She hands me the glasses, then tips in the wine so quickly the bubbles surge to the top and spill over down the sides. ‘Sorry! I’ll get a tea towel.’

‘It’s fine, don’t worry.’

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Liz this manic. It can only mean one thing. Lloyd’s been in touch.

‘You okay, Liz?’

‘Great.’ She places her glass on the table next to the sofa, then tries to insert a DVD into the player.

‘What’s Lloyd said now?’

‘Oh God.’ She sighs heavily and rocks back on her heels, holding on to the TV unit for support. ‘You don’t need to hear my crap.’

‘Yes, I do. What did he want?’