‘Are you okay?’ he asked, putting his hand on top of hers.

She looked at him in surprise. ‘Aren’t you angry with me?’

He smiled sadly. ‘No, Indie. You shouldn’t have done what you did, in the way that you did, but you should never have been involved in the first place. You’re a child. I’m so very sorry that you got dragged into this mess, I really am. It must have been absolutely horrible for you.’

Her dad’s kindness, his understanding despite what she’d done, set her off again and she was sobbing, spilling hot chocolate all over the duvet until Jack gently removed the mug from her hands and put his arms around her.

‘I’m sorry, Dad, I’m so sorry.’

‘I know,’ he said, hugging her even tighter.

When she had recovered, he handed her the drink back and she took it gratefully, craving the comfort of a childhood favourite. When they were younger Angie used to make hot chocolate for them every Friday before their baths. A little treat to celebrate the weekend, she would say.

‘I’ve messed up,’ she said.

‘Well, maybe a bit, but it’s not your fault.’

‘What’s going to happen now?’

‘I’m going to be moving out for a while.’

Indie looked at him in horror. ‘Dad, no! You can’t leave. She should go, she’s the one who caused all of this.’

‘I know it’s hard for you to understand, Indie, but Mum needs to be here, with you.’

‘No she doesn’t! Make her move out! You stay here and look after us.’

‘I’ll be round to see you all the time, don’t worry.’

‘No!’ Indie was getting desperate now. ‘Dad, you can’t leave me here with her.’

‘It’s just temporary, Indie, until we work out a long-term solution. You must remember that your mother loves you very, very much.’

‘Please take me with you, Dad. I’m begging you!’

He looked briefly torn, but then his expression hardened. ‘I’m sorry, Indie, but you need to stay here. You need to be able to get to school every day and anyway, your brothers and sister need you. And you’ve got to make it right with Mum.’

‘I’ll never make it right with her.’

Jack looked thoughtful and Indie prayed that he was about to change his mind about making her stay, but then he said, ‘Mum hasn’t been well, Indie. She’s not been well for a while. But we brushed it under the carpet. We shouldn’t have done that. I’m not justifying her behaviour but I’m saying that she deserves your understanding. She loves you so very much.’

‘So you keep saying.’

‘That’s because it’s true.’

‘Are you going to get a divorce?’

As soon as she’d said it, the question brought back memories from the past, hazy memories of having asked it before. Had they been here before? A vague recollection of Jack going to stay with Uncle Sam came slowly back to her. Yes, she remembered now. It was a few years back, not long before they put the house on the market and moved up here.