‘They’re not here yet,’ I tell her when she glides into the hallway smelling of Gucci and loosening a silk scarf from around her neck. Ellen seems disappointed, having come all the way to say hello to the boy and he’s not here. ‘But they should be here soon.’

I look at the clock and notice an hour has passed since I was expecting them. Tom must have taken my advice to take the boy for a chat, see what he can find out.

On realizing she’s going to have to wait, Ellen goes out to Jack who’s outside in the car, then comes back in. ‘He’ll call back,’ she says. ‘How are you coping?’

‘I’ve no choice, Ellen. It is what it is and I have to get on with it… until I don’t have to.’

‘He’s a lucky boy to have landed here and I’ll make sure to tell him.’

‘Don’t, Ellen, please, I’m sure he doesn’t feel a bit lucky at the moment.’

‘Oh yes… Oh yes,’ she says, remembering the circumstances that led to him being rehoused.

‘And Amber, how is Amber taking it?’

The door swings open and Amber trots in tripping in king-size fluffy slippers.

‘I’m under house arrest, Nan, so how do you think I’m taking it?’

I try to nod at Amber to say nothing about the woman looking in the window but I can’t get her attention. ‘She’ll be all right. It’s only for a few days… until things settle,’ I say.

‘Until they find the psycho, more like it.’

Ellen places the card on the table and I see Amber’s eyes read the name on the envelope. She looks at Ellen. I can see disappointment written all over her expression. Can Ellen? Clearly not, because the next thing she says is, ‘What psycho?’

Amber walks out of the room without answering. My heart sinks. This is the sort of thing I did not want to happen. Kenny being made a fuss of, which is how Amber will see it. Ellen’s favourite grandchild now has competition.

‘Nothing, don’t mind her. Do you want a cup of tea?’

‘Is she talking about the woman in the paper that the police are looking for? What has that got to do with Amber?’

‘Ellen, we’re just being extra careful until they find her. Amber’s not under house arrest, she’s just exaggerating… The kettle is on, I’ll be back in a minute.’

Amber is crying into her pillow when I open the door.

‘Knock. You have to knock!’ she shouts at me before dropping her face back into the pillow.