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Julian caught up with me at the door.

"Pearl. Don't say things you don't mean. I'll sort this out. I promise."

He reached for Lily's hand and tried to stroke her hair. She turned her head and moved away from him.

His hand stopped in the air.

I said, quietly: "Julian. I came back because I wanted Lily to have a good life. But look around. Nothing's changed. As long as Victoria and Hannah are here, it never will."

Victoria tried to say something. Julian turned on her.

"Enough." The word came out hard and very quiet. Not the voice he normally used with her.

She looked genuinely stunned.

The nursery head suggested moving to her office. I told her one sentence was enough: one girl would be leaving Greenfield Nursery, and the school could decide which.