‘Dad really scared her. He said we’d all have to change schools. That me and Leah probably wouldn’t see her or you again. She was terrified. He told her that in time we’d forget it ever happened. “It will be just one small event in their long and happy lives,” he said.’

‘Yes, because we’re all so happy.’

‘He asked her to trust him,’ Marie said. ‘And I suppose she did.’

Neither of them spoke. The muscle in Carly’s jaw was pulsing, quick and angry. Marie felt it all again. The fear that she might lose her sisters but this time it would be all her fault. She should have said something before. Her stomach contracted, veins screamed, body craving a numbness that she couldn’t afford. Right now there was only Carly and the truth.

‘Why the fuck didn’t you tell us?’ Marie flinched as Carly swore at her. ‘In court Dad said he’d acted alone. Mum swore she didn’t know anything. They were lying. You were lying. Why didn’t you tell us before it happened?’

‘I wanted to but I thought I could talk Dad out of it. I tried, I really did.’

Carly rose to her feet and began to pace the room. Four steps to the window, turn. Five steps to the door. Marie’s breath hitched in her throat, afraid Carly would leave but equally hoping she would just go. Carly strode over to the bookcase. Giant angry steps for such a small oppressive room. ‘Tell me everything.’

‘Okay.’ Marie closed her eyes and she remembered.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Carly

One week ago

Carly thought that nothing Marie could tell her now would be as bad as what had been revealed moments before.

She was wrong.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Marie

Then

Marie closed her eyes as her mum pressed the back of her hand against her forehead.

‘You don’t feel hot but you are very pale. And it’s your tummy?’

‘Yes. It hurts.’ Marie wasn’t lying. Ever since she’d eavesdropped on the conversation between her parents last night, the knot in her stomach had tightened and she felt a constant dull ache. ‘I think Leah’s sick too. She should stay here.’

‘God, if they’re both claiming to be ill they’ve probably got a maths test or something. Mum, we’re going to be late,’ Carly said unfairly. The twins were often ill at the same time. Chicken pox. Measles. Once Marie had lost her voice although she hadn’t felt remotely poorly, not knowing that Leah had gone to see the school nurse, hit by a sudden bout of tonsillitis.

‘Leah, are you poorly too?’ Mum asked. Marie willed her twin to say she was. If she stayed home Marie could tell her what she had overheard and they could try and work out what it all meant. Leah met Marie’s gaze and Marie knew she understood the wordless message.

‘I… I’m…’ Leah clasped her hands over her stomach. ‘Umm.’ Her cheeks flushed red. She was always useless at lying.

‘Leah?’ Mum tilted her head to one side.