Morgan leaned in closer as she tried to decipher her stepmother’s words. What was she talking about? Her mum had been the victim of their broken relationship. She hadn’t hurt anyone but herself. Inhaling a shallow breath, she pressed a hand against the ridges in the door as she listened in.

‘Water under the bridge,’ Ed said. ‘And besides, I’m all she has.’

‘And whose fault is that?’ Devoid of sympathy, Naomi’s voice rose in the room. ‘She’s alienated herself from everyone she’s known.’

‘I know . . . and you’re right, she has. But I won’t forgive myself if she does something stupid.’ Morgan heard the sound of a zip being drawn across a bag. Should she confront them? She listened as her dad delivered platitudes. ‘I won’t go unless I have to. She might turn up tomorrow.’

‘You don’t think that any more than I do.’ Naomi sighed. ‘Otherwise, you wouldn’t be getting your overnight bag ready.’ Her words were tight with anxiety.

‘This will be the last time, I promise,’ Ed said. ‘I’ll persuade her to talk to her family. It’s about time she asked for help.’

Good luck with that, Morgan thought. Harmony’s side of the family had given up on her years ago. Harmony was wild and unpredictable and hadn’t cared who she hurt when she was young. But she had matured with age. Her benders were less frequent now. She’d once told Morgan that she and Ed were the only two people in the world that she loved. She’d made that particular declaration when she returned home one night, after being gone for three days. Ed had been in Canada, filming on location. Morgan was just six years old. The memory bit deep, bringing a lump to her throat. Looking back now, she could see how irresponsible her mother had been.

‘What are you telling Morgan?’

Morgan stepped back as Naomi’s voice came inches from the door. She didn’t need to hear the answer. She would find out soon enough. Stealing herself away, Morgan padded down the hall to the living room, the soles of her feet cold against the wooden floor. Her thoughts raced around her head. Knowing her dad, he would blurt out a sanitised version of the truth. Saying it was a work call was just his way of getting Naomi alone.