The day they brought Eleanor home was bright and clear, with a sky so indigo it almost looked as if stars should be visible. Having been back home in London for several weeks, Jason had come back to Cornwall alone for a couple of days. Greta’s mother had flown over to help out with the babies.

As they stood outside the farmhouse waiting, an onshore breeze heralding Lenni’s arrival, Claire turned her face to the sun. She was filled with anticipation. They’d seen Lenni over the last couple of weeks, of course – the short visits gradually getting longer, stretching from ten minutes to several hours. They’d taken her gifts, were patient with her when she wanted to be alone with the curtains drawn and the lights off, yet listened to her when she was ready to speak. So far, she’d said little about what had happened to her. The psychologist said it was normal, that it might come out in time. For now, it was all about reconnecting, rekindling relationships, building trust.

Occupational therapists and mental health workers had come to the farm too, preparing the family for her return. Everyone had been astounded by her progress, how her inner life force was keeping her going – a wilting seedling finally being given light and water.

Claire took her mother’s trembling hand when they saw the car crowning the rise of the drive. Shona was still on medication, still struggling with everything, but was making progress each day.

‘You OK?’ Nick whispered, leaning close to Claire, taking her other hand. He meshed his fingers between hers as the vehicle came closer. Jason was close by, and Aunt Jenny had come down to offer her support to Shona.

‘I think so,’ Claire whispered back, not taking her eyes off the car.

‘Is she here yet?’ Rain came tumbling out of the house, squeezing in next to Jason. She’d decided to stay on in Cornwall a bit longer while Maggie got them settled into Rose’s place. Hanging out with Marcus and his mates was doing her good, and she reckoned she might be back next holidays.

‘This is it, then,’ Jason said, as the car pulled across the gravel into the courtyard. The windows flared with sunlight, obscuring the faces inside.

The front door of the car opened and Sarah, the psychologist who’d been visiting, got out. She removed her sunglasses and forked them onto her head, smiling at the small gathering. Low key was best, she’d told them, so as not to overwhelm Eleanor. A nurse got out of the back of the car and came round, opening the other rear door. For those few moments, it was as if the whole world was holding its breath.

And then Eleanor emerged – a hand on the top of the door, her feet reaching tentatively for the ground. Her eyes were blinking, squinting, darting about.

‘Lenni,’ Jason said under his breath. Claire squeezed Nick’s hand, leading him a step forward as Eleanor stood upright. Outside of the hospital, she seemed so small. The nurse tried to help her, but she shied away. Typical Lenni, Claire thought, desperate to run up to her, to hold her, to never let her go.

‘Hello, Lenni,’ Claire said across the courtyard.

‘Hello,’ came a faint whisper back, but it could have been a breath of wind in the trees. She looked at the distance between her and her sister – the little girl she’d allowed to get lost. About twenty feet separated them, each one representing a year of missing time.

‘Darling,’ Shona said from behind, so weakly she didn’t think Eleanor even heard.

Claire took another step forward, Nick beside her. She was aware of the others flanking her, how much it felt like Grandmother’s Footsteps, the game they all used to play as kids.

Nineteen years.

‘Welcome home, Lenni,’ Jason said, his voice wavering at words he never thought he’d get to say.

Lenni’s mouth motioned upwards, making a small smile.

In turn, she took a step or two closer to them. Seventeen years.

She was wearing grey linen trousers and a white blouse with flat black pumps on feet that shuffled her closer still. A pale-green cardigan was draped over her shoulders – all her clothes chosen by Claire. Her hair was different too, the brittle strands now untangled and trimmed. It sat a couple of inches above her shoulders in a wispy cut, making her look a little more normal, a little more real.

Claire ventured forward a bit more. Fourteen years. It was only as she got closer that Eleanor’s flaking fingernails, her bad teeth, her sallow complexion became apparent. Her unusual gait was only noticeable when she walked.

‘It’s so good to have you home,’ Claire said, inching forward to twelve years.

Lenni glanced down at her feet, as if urging them to work. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said in that defiant, almost childlike voice. ‘Sorry… sorry… sorry…’

‘Oh, my darling, don’t be sorry.’ Shona drew closer but halted. She wasn’t sure what to do. Was hugging her OK? Maybe she didn’t even want to be hugged.

‘You mustn’t be sorry, Lenni,’ Claire echoed. ‘You did nothing wrong.’ She gripped Nick’s fingers as she crept forward. Eight years to go.

As Lenni stood alone in the middle of the courtyard, her psychologist deliberately holding back, the nurse hovering just in case, Claire noticed that her eyes had latched onto something, or someone. She tracked her gaze to where Rain was standing, a little removed from the rest of them.

‘Hello again,’ Lenni said, a smile lighting up her face. Cheekbones stood proud above her beaming mouth, sore lips framing dark teeth. At this distance, Claire saw the white streaks of sunblock smeared on her skin.

Hello again, Claire thought? Did Lenni recognise something of herself in Rain, drawn to someone of a similar age when she’d been taken? The psychologist had warned them about things like that.

‘It’s hot,’ Eleanor said quietly, only taking her eyes off Rain briefly to look up at the sky. ‘And so big.’ She came closer, the nurse taking hold of her elbow when she wobbled.

Four years.

‘Yes, we’re having a lovely warm spell,’ Claire said, flicking her eyes between Lenni and Rain. What was going on?

‘A lovely warm spell,’ Eleanor repeated, though it was directed at Rain.

‘We should go inside,’ the psychologist suggested. No one replied. All eyes were on Eleanor as she moved forward, releasing herself from the nurse’s steadying hand. She wanted to be free. Just a couple of years apart now.

‘Shall we go to the beach?’ Eleanor asked, approaching Rain. She held out a hand to her. ‘We can get an ice cream.’ The cheeky glimmer of thirteen-year-old Lenni was evident in her grin, though she had no idea how deep her words cut. No one heard the psychologist when she suggested that the beach probably wasn’t a good idea, that going inside and resting would be wise.

Shona, Jason and Claire nodded to each other, drawing close to Lenni, opening their arms wide around her like a giant flower blooming. She allowed herself to be embraced, swallowed up, absorbed by their love. And as the years between them diminished absolutely nothing at all, as the vast expanse of missing time ceased to exist, they all turned and headed slowly for the sea.