On the other side of the starting line, the two supercars, unable to get past, had stopped. Suzi walked over to speak to Peter. He took off his helmet.

“Hmm,” said Peter. “This isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.”

“No,” said Suzi. “Things often aren’t as easy as you think they’ll be.”

Peter stared at her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She stared back at him. “Well, Peter. I think you probably thought after the accident that the easiest way of dealing with your guilt about it was to leave your family and go and live miles away.”

“I—” he began.

“I think you thought it was easier because that way you wouldn’t have to be confronted every day with your disabled daughter.”

Peter went very red, and opened his mouth to speak. He looked extremely angry.

“Or with me,” said a voice, “and the fact that I was also pretty shaken up by the accident.”

They turned. It was Jack who had spoken. He looked nervous. But suddenly older, not so much like a stretched-out toddler – as if he’d suddenly become a little bit more of a man.

Peter Taylor shook his head. Jack’s interruption had cut off his anger. Perhaps because it was the first time Jack had said anything to him for some time. Now he looked more confused. “I can’t believe that’s what you think!” he said.

“It is what we think, Dad. It’s what we all think. Well, except Amy. Who probably does think it too, but wouldn’t say it.”

“Yes, Peter,” said Suzi. “Because she loves you too much.”

He opened his mouth again. But then he shut it and, for a second, just looked very, very sad.

Suzi sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. “Having said that, blaming each other is not helping. As it never does. It’s not getting our daughter out of that vehicle and into a safe place.”

Peter nodded. He turned back to the track. “Well,” he said, “I suppose we could just sit here and wait for her to come round again.”

Suzi looked out at the TurboChaser going round the first bend of the track once more. It had gone back to its usual shape.

“No,” she said. “Look.”

He looked. The TurboChaser was slowing down. It stopped, about halfway round the track.

“I thought she might do that,” said Suzi. “She’ll just sit there now, until we chase her again.”

“Why?”

Suzi took a deep breath. “Because I know my daughter. And she’s trying to show you something. She’s trying to show you she can drive. She’s not going to stop until she absolutely has to.”

Peter shook his head. “So – if you know her so much better than I do, Suzi – what do you suggest?”

Suzi blinked. She looked round. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not to me.”

“I’m going to take the van and the other parents off the track. I suggest you tell your other driver to get off too.”

Peter frowned. “Leaving just me and her?”

“Yes. That’s what she wants. To race you.”

Peter thought about it. He almost, for a second, seemed to smile. Then he said, “OK.”