‘Safe, or at least we hope they are, and hope is all we have until they choose to surface.’ He glanced around the canteen at the children who were sitting there making paper chains to use as Christmas decorations. ‘I must say, I’m disappointed to see so many of you still here.’

‘Us too,’ replied Roz plainly. ‘But we’re not six years old with faces full of freckles.’

‘I’m afraid you’re probably right, although you could look at it another way – you could say they were saving the best ’til last.’

Roz laughed. ‘You certainly could.’

As he left the canteen, she went back to join her friends who were looking hopeful. ‘You’re smiling,’ said Felix, ‘does that mean you’ve had good news?’

Roz shook her head. ‘Afraid not, but he did manage to raise my spirits.’

Felix placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘Well then, that’s good enough for me.’

Adele giggled. ‘I reckon it’s just as well you’ve not been picked yet, Roz, because I don’t think I could put up with Felix moping and whinging about how much he missed you.’

Felix shrugged, but didn’t deny it. ‘We’ve become great friends – it’s only natural that I should miss Roz when she goes.’

‘Bet you won’t miss me as much,’ said Adele, with a wry smile.

‘Only because you take the …’ He glanced at Roz, searching for the right word. The children had taken full advantage of their time with Adele, and had begun to speak English as well as any child who had been born and brought up in the country.

‘The Mickey Bliss,’ Adele said easily.

‘Yeah,’ said Felix, ‘only because you take the mickey out of me all the time.’

Adele grinned. ‘You make it so easy for me!’

Roz shook her head with a chuckle. ‘Honestly, you two! You bicker like brother and sister.’

The door to the canteen opened and Reggie reappeared. He signalled to Roz. ‘Looks like today’s your lucky day.’

Leaping to her feet, Roz rushed over to join him. ‘My parents?’

His face fell. ‘Sorry, dear, I didn’t think. I meant it’s your lucky day because we’ve found you a foster family.’

Roz looked doubtful. ‘But they haven’t even seen me!’

‘They didn’t need to. They’re after an older child, a girl, and the best part …’ he beamed at her, ‘… they hail from Liverpool.’

Roz gave a whoop of excitement. Grinning, she turned to Adele and Felix. ‘Back in a mo.’

Adele put the glue brush she’d been using back into the pot and placed an arm around Felix’s shoulders. ‘Cheer up. It’s not as if it’s the end of the world – you can easily keep in touch.’

Felix stared glumly at the door which closed behind Roz. ‘I can’t help worrying about her. I think it’s because I’ve been there since the start, watched over her, made sure she’s alright, but I won’t be able to do that if she leaves.’