‘Hello, darling.’ His voice sounds muddied, as though he’s tired or been drinking. ‘I just wanted to check that you’re okay and say goodnight before I turn in. I was thinking about you all the way from Bristol to Gloucester.’

‘You’re there then?’

‘Yes, of course.’ He laughs. ‘Where did you think I was?’

‘Nowhere. I … it’s good to hear your voice.’

‘And it’s good to hear yours.’ He laughs again. He’s definitely drunk. He always used to get a bit soppy after a night out. Soppy and loving. ‘It’s been a while since I rang you to say goodnight, hasn’t it? Remember when we were dating and I’d go on a night out with the boys and you’d go on a night out with the girls? I’d always give you a ring before I went to sleep. Well, it was more like passing out and we’d …’

He continues to talk, laughing at his one-sided reminiscences, his voice a low murmur in my ear as Jake reaches into the pocket of his tracksuit and pulls out his phone. He taps at the screen with his thumb.

I interrupt Mark, still in full flow. ‘I’d better let you go. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.’

‘Yeah.’ He sighs. ‘I have. Okay. Sleep well, Claire. I love you.’

‘I …’ I pause. It’s been so long since I told Mark I love him that the words feel alien in my mouth. ‘I love you too.’

‘Bye then. Bye!’

The line goes dead and Jake looks up from his phone. ‘Was that Dad?’

‘Yeah.’

‘You didn’t tell him what happened.’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I didn’t want to worry him and …’ I pause as an image flashes across my mind. The last thing I saw before I blacked out.

‘Mum?’ Jake says. ‘What’s the matter?’

The room swims and the air grows thick and hot.

‘Mum?’ Jake tucks his phone back into his pocket as he moves to stand up. ‘You’re not having another blackout, are you? Should I ring someone?’

‘No.’

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Tell me the secret you’re keeping from me.’

Jake shifts in his seat. ‘Secret? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Yes, you do.’

‘No, I—’

‘Give me your phone then.’

‘What?’ He blanches. ‘No. It’s … personal.’

I sit forward, my mind suddenly clear. ‘I read one of your messages. It said, “I can keep a secret if you can.” Who sent it to you?’

‘Uh …’ His hand moves to his pocket, as though he’s checking that the phone is still there. ‘No one.’

‘I read it. Tell me who sent it to you, Jake. Was it Billy? Do you know where he is?’

‘Billy?’ His eyes widen in surprise. ‘God … no … no, of course it wasn’t. How could Billy—’