He doesn’t reply. I know I should have told him about this earlier. Either that, or I shouldn’t have told him at all. He’s obviously upset with me for keeping such a big secret. My head swims at the thought of my revelation driving a wedge between us. At the thought of him losing any trust in me. ‘Matt, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before.’

‘I get that you wouldn’t want everyone else knowing about it. But what about me? What about after Charlie was born. Don’t you think it was…? I mean… don’t you think you could have trusted me with your history?’

‘It wasn’t anything to do with not trusting you. It’s just that I wasn’t strong enough to talk about it. To relive it all. Just mentioning her name makes me feel shaky. Even now, I feel like my mind is imploding. Like if I let myself think about it all properly, I’ll end up having another breakdown.’

He nods as though he understands, but I can see his mind working behind his eyes. The hurt expression on his face at the realisation that I kept such a big part of my life from him.

‘I’m sorry.’ I say the words again but even to my ears they sound hollow.

He shakes his head. ‘You don’t have to say sorry.’ But his initial shock and sympathy has already given way to something else.

‘So much for a relaxed evening of beer and nachos,’ I say, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. But my heart isn’t in it, and Matt doesn’t even attempt a smile.

He turns away from the window to face me. ‘Did the police have any idea who took her?’

‘There was some footage of someone in a hooded top leading her away…’ I try to shake the image from my mind.

‘A man?’

‘They couldn’t tell. The CCTV quality was so bad.’

‘I can’t even imagine what you must have gone through.’

‘It was a rough time. But starting over helped. Being away from where it happened.’

‘Is this why you’re so overprotective with Charlie and Jess? I mean, I know I’m always on at you to let them have more freedom. Now I feel bad.’

‘I know the chances of it happening again are remote, but I don’t like to lose sight of them – ever. It makes me feel physically sick.’

‘Of course. Of course it must. I can’t imagine…’ Matt stoops to pick up his beer bottle from the coffee table. He drains it in a few long gulps and sets it back down. ‘Could it have been someone you knew? I mean, they say that, don’t they? That crimes are usually committed by people you know.’

‘The police interviewed everyone – neighbours, friends, family.’

‘What about Andy?’

‘What about him?’