I set my tea down too loudly on the coffee table and rush off to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I put the seat down and perch on the edge, trying to get my breathing under control, trying to halt the trembling in my fingers. Am I being irrational? Maybe I’m mistaken. Maybe Bella isn’t Holly. But what about her distinctive green eyes? Her hair colour? The shape of her face? All of it. And even Kate said she was their ‘changeling’ child. Was that comment meant as a taunt? As a dare, to goad me into saying what I’m thinking? Perhaps it’s me who’s got it all wrong, but my brain is so muddled right now. I honestly don’t know what to think. And I have no clue what to do next.

8

After Kate and her children leave the house, I close the door and exhale, exhaustion pulling at my limbs. After my mini-panic attack in the loo earlier, I managed to pull myself together enough to re-join Kate in the lounge. I decided to try to treat the rest of her visit like any other normal cuppa-with-a-friend afternoon. Otherwise I was going to be in danger of scaring her off, and then my chances of seeing Bella again would dwindle to zero.

So I relaxed and we chatted about schools and kids and all kinds of normal, mundane things. We actually got on really well, sharing a similar sense of humour. The kids had a blast, hanging out in each other’s rooms. I made them pasta and gave them ice cream for afters. It ended up being the perfect, paint-by-numbers play date. So much so that I almost forgot the reason I invited Kate over in the first place. Almost.

But now that she’s gone, I’ve had an idea about something I should have done when I first saw Bella. I actually don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier. I ignore the mess in the kitchen and dining room and head back into the lounge with my phone. As I sit on the sofa, there’s a thundering of feet down the stairs and the lounge door swings open. It’s Jess, clutching her phone, eyes bright.

‘Mum, I’m just talking to Amy. Would it be okay if she comes for a sleepover at the weekend? Please say yes. Please, please, please, please.’

I frown, wondering whether it’s a good idea or not. ‘Let me think about it.’

‘We won’t make loads of noise, we’ll just be in my room.’

‘I said I’d think about it.’