And then, after an hour of silence, I got angry.

You’ve made mistakes. You’ve said things you didn’t mean in the heat of the moment and I’ve always forgiven you. Just talk to me, let’s sort this out.

OK, fine. Ignore me. Because that makes everything better, doesn’t it?

I’m going to bed.

Any anger I felt towards him has evaporated overnight. I’m pissed off with myself now. I was an idiot for taking my stress out on him. He didn’t deserve it.

I glance at the bedside clock. 8.30 a.m. With any luck he’ll be sitting in his car outside an appointment and I’ll catch him before he goes in.

Mark. I’m sorry. Please. Just send me a text to let me know you’re OK. I know you’re angry. But please. Just let me know you’re—

A noise from downstairs makes me jump. I heard Jake and Kira clattering down the stairs at least half an hour ago so it can’t be them. And Mark should be on his way to work. Unless he’s come back. Maybe he’s decided to take the morning off and sort things out?

I push back the duvet and swing my legs out of bed, then cross the bedroom and take the stairs one at a time, treading quietly. Logically I know I’ll find Mark sitting at the kitchen table, or standing by the sink, looking moodily out into the street, but there’s still a tiny part of me that hopes that it’s Billy. And if it is, if a miracle has occurred and he’s home and he’s tired and he’s dirty and he’s traumatized, I don’t want to be the one who scares him off.

But it’s not Billy bent over the kitchen table with his head bowed low. It’s Kira, an ear bud in one hand, a camera lens in the other, her tongue stud clacking against her front teeth as she flicks her tongue forwards and backwards in her mouth. It’s a habit she’s developed since she had her tongue pierced a few months ago.

Clack-clack-clack.

She looks deep in thought, totally focused on wiping every last smear and streak from the glass.

I swallow my disappointment and step into the kitchen. ‘You’ll damage your front teeth if you keep doing that.’

She jumps at the sound of my voice and gathers her camera equipment to her chest.

‘Sorry I startled you. I thought you were at college. Cup of tea?’

‘No, thanks.’ She stands up and begins replacing lens caps and zipping lenses and camera bodies into their cases. ‘I’ve got a couple of free periods this morning so I thought I’d clean my kit before I head into town to take some photos.’