‘You’re in shock, Catriona. A deep, dark, horrible shock. We both are. I can’t get my head round any of it. I can’t even believe it’s real.’ He’s panting now, gasping. ‘I need to call them so we can sort this all out. We can’t do this on our own. We have to tell them what’s happened. God help you, I know it was an accident, but…’ He tails off for a moment and stares at the wall as though searching for answers. ‘That girl out there in Gracie’s bed’ – his voice breaks – ‘that was just you trying to make things right. But it’s no good. You can’t do that to another family. You can’t take someone else’s child to replace your own. No one can replace our beautiful Gracie. No one!’

‘But—’

‘No! No buts. We’re doing this.’ Darren unlocks his phone.

Catriona’s head swims and she realises that if her boyfriend makes the call, he will be ruining any chance she’ll ever have at happiness. They’ll take Grace away and her room will lie empty forever. Catriona will have to face things that no mother should ever have to face. ‘Don’t do it, Darren,’ she pleads. ‘If you love me, don’t do it.’

‘Sorry. You know I love you, but I have to.’

Catriona can’t let that happen. She lunges at him, trying to snatch the phone. ‘Give me it!’ Instead of grasping the phone, she ends up knocking it from his grip and it slides across the laminate floor with a clatter and a scrape. Darren drops down to retrieve it, but before he can get hold of it, Catriona lifts her foot and stamps on the thing with the heel of her boot, feeling the crunch of glass and metal.

‘No! What did you do that for?’ Darren picks it up and turns it over in his hands. The screen is now a maze of cracks. He presses a few buttons and swears. ‘Great. It’s broken.’

‘I couldn’t let you ring them, Darren.’ The crying from the other room has turned from sobs into wails. ‘Just come with me now and see our little girl. Once you see her, you’ll know I’m right. You’ll feel better about everything, I promise. Come on.’ She tries to take his hand, but Darren recoils from her. Catriona can’t believe it.

‘Feel better about everything?’ He shakes his head. ‘You’re crazy! How can we ever feel better about any of this?’ Darren darts around her and slips out of the room. Perhaps he’s changed his mind. Maybe he’s going to see Grace for himself before making a decision. But following him into the hall, Catriona realises she’s mistaken. Darren is reaching for his coat on the peg by the front door.

Her pulse spikes. ‘Where are you going? Don’t leave!’