Did she wish her mum had never met Simon?

If she hadn’t met him then the twins would never exist and how could she ever wish for that? That man had ruined her life with one hand but given her something precious with the other.

Sisters.

And for a time they’d all been happy. A proper family. Leah and Marie had been the closest, of course, but that was because they were twins, not because she had a different dad. She had never felt any less.

A new angle.

What was so bad that Marie couldn’t meet her eye?

Half a sister.

Half a person.

Half the truth.

‘Tell me,’ Carly demanded over and over until Marie falteringly began to speak.

Chapter Fifty-One

Marie

One week ago

‘I… I…’ Marie’s hands were shaking, her teeth too. ‘I overheard Mum and Dad talking… planning, I suppose. The abduction… I—’

‘Mum didn’t know!’ Carly said.

‘She did… I heard them.’

‘When? Where were we?’ Carly’s eyes narrowed.

‘It was late. You were in bed, and Leah was asleep. I was wide awake, worrying.’

‘About what?’

Marie scratched her arm. ‘You, I guess. I was thinking you’d gone off us, that you preferred Dean Malden to—’

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Carly snapped. ‘Tell me about Mum and Dad.’

‘Well, I crept downstairs and they were in the kitchen. They didn’t know I was outside the door. I was about to go in when Mum said, Tell me again and there was something in her voice that made me hesitate. Dad explained to her that, with the right media coverage, missing children can attract a lot of attention. People would donate money—’

‘Even if he said that, Mum would never agree. Why would she?’ Carly cut in.

‘She did say no… at first.’

‘What changed her mind?’ The expression on Carly’s face told Marie that she didn’t believe any of it.

It was a sharp and jagged truth and, as much as Marie didn’t want to share it, it was a relief in a way. She’d carried it alone for such a long time.

‘Dad said that… he said that if Mum didn’t agree then they would lose the house—’

‘So? Big deal. Loads of people move.’

‘And… and that we wouldn’t be able to stay together. He had a friend who would probably put up him and… me and Leah, but you and Mum would be on your own. Back to the council estate. He said you’d probably end up on drugs or worse.’

‘Well, that’s fucking ironic, looking at you.’ Marie didn’t blame Carly for lashing out.

‘Dad said it would only be for a couple of days and there wouldn’t be any lasting effects.’

‘Yeah, right.’ Carly jabbed her finger at Marie. ‘Junkie.’ She pointed a finger at herself. ‘Too scared to trust anyone and Leah…’

‘I know.’ Marie hung her head.

‘Christ.’ Carly pressed her fingers into her skull. ‘Sorry. I don’t mean to take it out on you but… really? That’s all it took to persuade Mum?’