When she’d seen the ad, her breath had been momentarily trapped as she read and reread Laura Denning’s job description. It was perfect. Too perfect to be true, really. The opportunity had practically fallen into her lap; now all she had to do was ensure she got the job. She had six months of Laura not being there to get her feet under the table.

Neither her mum nor Jess knew the whole truth. She could imagine what they would say to her, if they did. They would tell her to get out.

‘How did that pitch go that you were worrying about?’ Jess asked.

Mia didn’t mention that the pitch was a week ago now; it was nice that Jess had remembered it at all. ‘It was fine, to a point,’ Mia told her, ‘and then I cocked it up. I forgot something major, but I think I’ve got past it.’

‘You always do.’ The corners of Jess’s mouth twitched. ‘My little sister always has a knack of making sure things go her way.’

‘Here’s hoping,’ Mia smiled. She reached a hand out and touched Jess’s. ‘Come to the pub with us for lunch? We can go locally – we don’t have to get in the car – and we can sit outside. You don’t have to go in.’

Jess pulled away.

‘I know you don’t want to, but I’m thinking of Mum. She won’t leave you, Jess, you know that.’

‘Don’t put that onto me.’

‘I’m not. I don’t mean to. But she looks done in. Honestly, she could do with this. The three of us girls together. Please.’

Jess turned and looked out of the window that faced the road. It wasn’t a pleasant view, and Mia often wished Jess had something better to look at, given the amount of time she spent in her room; but then she’d been the one to stop her mum trying to give up her own bedroom at the back. As far as Mia was concerned, that was one thing she shouldn’t have to do for her daughter.

‘I know how hard this feels for you, but it doesn’t have to be,’ Mia went on. ‘Please just try. If it gets too much, we’ll turn round and come straight home. I promise.’

‘Okay,’ Jess said eventually.

‘Really?’

‘I’ll try, but …’

‘I know, I know.’ Mia stood up and kissed her sister on the top of her head, closing her eyes and lingering for a moment as she breathed in the faint scent of coconut shampoo.

It must seem such a small step for most people, but it was a victory for them, and Mia tried to focus on that, rather than the thoughts that often invaded her head: the events of twelve months ago that had turned their world on its axis. The reason they were all living in this prison.