“Izzy just wants to help you, Paul,” she tells him, standing up. “I’ll tell her I tried; she’ll be devastated to hear—”

“Just the statement then, nothing else,” he interrupts harshly, staring up at her; it’s strange how threatening he still sounds, even in prison.

She walks away after that; she’s fulfilled her promise to Izzy, the only thing that matters. She won’t see him again till the trial, but at least Izzy’s mind will be put at ease.

That evening, she calls the shelter and Karen answers; she’s excited, the news is good. The Home Office has agreed to let Lina stay in England. Lina’s home in Syria is a conflict zone, she has no relatives there, both reasons for her to be allowed to remain in the UK.

“That’s such great news.” Melissa smiles for the first time that day.

“I’ll find her for you; she’s resting.”

A few minutes later Lina’s voice murmurs a shy hello.

“How are you?” Lina is twenty weeks pregnant but she rarely refers to the fact. Melly is cautious.

“Fine.”

“Karen told me you are allowed to stay; it’s wonderful news, Lina.”

“Yes, thank you. I am happy.”

“When we have a home, there will be a room specially for you, two rooms.” Paul’s child, but also Izzy’s little half brother or sister. Lina’s baby, someone to cherish.

“Thank you very much.”

“Sorrel is still in hospital but she’s getting better all the time.”

“I’m very glad.”

“Paul’s in prison; I expect you know that. He’s likely to stay there for a long time.”

“I see.”

“Whatever happens, you won’t be hurt again.”

Lina doesn’t reply. They talk a little about Salisbury and the cathedral and the next visit Melissa will make when she comes to see how the work in the Wiltshire house is progressing.

After the call Melissa walks upstairs to Izzy’s room but she has fallen asleep; her homework is in a tidy pile on her desk. Melissa strokes her hair lightly. She hasn’t told her about Lina coming to live with them yet or about the pregnancy. There will be plenty of time. She watches her daughter breathing gently, relishing the peaceful moments that she never used to have with her, thankful Izzy is managing so well without the father she adores.

Poppy wants to laugh and cry at the same time. She wants to laugh because Sorrel’s okay, and then she wants to cry because she doesn’t look like Sorrel except for her eyes. The nurses cut her hair because it was all tangled. She looks yellow; she’s got tubes going into her skin and she’s covered with bruises. She looks tiny in the hospital bed. Was she that small before? Whoever took her must’ve just lifted her up and—no. She’s not going to think about that. It’s like Ash, she can bear to think about him only for little bits at a time. Izzy’s being nice. She asks about Sorrel all the time, about how she is and her memory and everything. She’s nicer than she used to be and Poppy gets that, because she is too. Mum says when you think you are going to lose something important it changes you; you concentrate on the things that really matter. Izzy hasn’t said anything much about her dad. She probably feels embarrassed and guilty, but it’s not Izzy’s fault. If people at school say it’s odd that Poppy’s best friends with the girl whose father kidnapped her sister, then that’s their problem. They don’t know what Izzy’s like—especially now. Izzy does her homework and she lends her clothes and everything. She actually feels sorry for Izzy, which she never thought she would. She feels sorry for Mum too. Dad never talks to her and you can tell she minds. It’s her fault for having sex with Martin—if that’s true—which is gross, but she’s not thinking about that either.