I was stunned by the smartphone. So was Zara, who stared at it enviously. Even Rowena was aware of its magnificence. They both exclaimed loudly.

I was utterly silent, incapable of speech. I didn’t know what to do. I knew I should be rushing over to Dad, flinging my arms round his neck, thanking him again and again. And yet, if I did that, it would seem so hypocritical. It would make me look so shallow, as if my affections could simply be bought with an expensive gift. I wasn’t daft, I knew just how expensive it was, and it was definitely brand new, in all its wrappings.

The amount Dad had spent on our Boxing Day presents was practically obscene, and he’d probably provided all the fancy food for our meal too. Yet he didn’t give Mum much money for our keep. She was always having to scrimp and save. She had to provide all the boring things: school blouses, underwear, bus money, haircuts and trainers; all the bread and biscuits and baked beans and milk and apples and oranges; all the soap and shampoo and toothpaste and loo rolls; all the paracetamol and cough drops and plasters and ChapSticks.

Dad could just turn up and take us to the Christmas fair and shower us with diamond earrings and elaborate toys and smartphones, like Santa on speed.

‘My goodness, Francesca! What do you say to your father?’ Granny prompted.

There was a part of me that wanted to tell Dad to stuff his smartphone up his Christmas jumper. He couldn’t buy my love back even if he bought me all the electronic goodies in the Apple store. Yet that would be grotesque. And what if he took the phone away? I badly needed one now.

‘Thank you very much indeed, Dad,’ I said. ‘You shouldn’t have – but I’m very glad you did.’

He held out his arms. ‘Come and give me a hug and a kiss then.’

I took a deep breath. Zara and Rowena were staring at me, willing me not to spoil everything.

I made myself get up and walk over to him. I gave him a limp hug and brushed my lips quickly against his cheek.

‘Oh, Frankie,’ said Dad, pulling me closer. ‘I’m so happy – so, so, so glad we’re friends again.’

I looked over his shoulder and saw Helen watching us, her hands crossed over her rounded stomach. I couldn’t quite read her expression. Was she happy Dad thought we were friends? Did she think I was a spoiled brat? Did she resent all the money Dad was spending on us girls, when he should be saving for the new baby, the new house, their new life?

‘Who are you going to message first?’ Zara asked. ‘What a shame you haven’t got your old SIM card – you won’t know your contacts any more.’

‘I know the ones I need,’ I said.

I sent Mum a text first, in proper sentences because she hates text abbreviations.

Dearest Mum, this is my new phone! Missing you so much. Hope you’re OK and not too lonely. Lots of love Frankie xxx

She replied immediately:

Fantastic! Missing you so much too, all of you, but not lonely, promise! Had a lovely surprise! Much love, Mum xxxxx

Then I texted Sam:

Hi, new phone! Happy Boxing Day! Luv Frankie x

He replied immediately too:

Gr8! Luv Sam x

and added several smiley faces.

Then I sent my third text, my fingers shaking so I kept having to delete mistakes.

Hey Snowgirl, having fun? Frankie xxx

I waited. Seconds, minutes, an hour.

I didn’t get a reply until halfway through the evening, when I’d almost given up hope.

Yeah, having fun. Love S xxxxx

We texted every day after that. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, and many times in between. I moved through each endless day like a zombie, going for long walks, climbing hills, visiting the local shops, fetching eggs from the farm, eating interminable meals and playing pointless games of Monopoly and Ludo and Trivial Pursuit every evening, just living for the little ping of a text arriving on my phone. I checked it constantly, clutching it in my hand.

Granny quickly grew annoyed with me, especially when I laid it down beside me on the dining table.

‘Do put that wretched phone away, Frankie! It’s such bad manners, peering at it all the time,’ she complained.

‘Stop nagging her, Mother. Why can’t you simply let her enjoy her present?’ Dad said happily.

‘It’s ridiculous, giving a girl Frankie’s age such an expensive present. She’ll only break it again, like she did last time. If she must have a phone, why not give her one like mine? It’s perfectly adequate.’

Granny had an ancient flip phone which she hardly ever switched on. She said it was just for emergencies, but if an emergency ever happened, she’d find she had no battery whatsoever.

I texted this to Zara and she giggled. It was a useful way of communicating with her right in front of the others. But Granny wasn’t daft, even though she was so old-fashioned.

‘It’s even more bad-mannered to send each other those silly texts, especially when you’re sitting next to each other,’ she snapped. ‘For the life of me I can’t understand why you girls don’t make proper phone calls instead of tapping away all the time.’

That night we watched a black-and-white film which showed several phone calls from those old telephone boxes. Granny was explaining how to use button A and button B – as if we cared – when another text pinged into my phone. I fumbled for it in my pocket.

‘Francesca! For goodness’ sake, surely you can wait till the end of the film!’ said Granny.

‘But – but it might be Mum,’ I said.

I knew it wasn’t likely. Mum only texted at bedtime to wish me goodnight.

‘I have to check, just in case she’s not well,’ I said wickedly.

‘Is she going through a bad spell?’ Helen asked.

‘Well, it’s always a bad spell now,’ I said, laying it on thick. ‘Her legs are hurting her, and she’s always exhausted.’

‘Oh dear,’ she said inadequately. She gave a little yawn and rubbed her back to show that she felt exhausted too – as if being pregnant was somehow the equivalent of MS.

‘You’re missing a really important part of the plot!’ Granny complained, turning up the volume.

I took no notice and looked at my phone.

Can’t w8 4 New Year’s Eve! Miss u like crazy. Love from ur Snowgirl xxxxx

I gave a little gasp.

‘What is it?’ asked Granny. ‘Oh dear, is it your mother? What’s happened?’

They were all staring at me. I went hot all over.

‘No, no, it’s not Mum. Just a friend,’ I said quickly. ‘Sorry.’

‘Well, something’s the matter. You’ve gone bright red!’ said Granny.

‘Oh my goodness! Is it a boyfriend, Frankie?’ said Helen, with a smirk.

‘She’s never got a boyfriend at her age!’ Granny sounded shocked. ‘Even Zara hasn’t had a boyfriend yet.’

‘Yes I have!’ Zara lied indignantly.

‘It’s just Sammy,’ said Dad. ‘The boy next door. No surprises there. I’m right, aren’t I, Frankie?’

I should have simply nodded. But they were all getting on my nerves, being crass, treating me like a comedy turn.

‘No, you’re wrong, actually,’ I said.

‘So who is it?’ Dad asked.

‘It’s private.’

‘Go on, let’s see,’ he said, reaching for my phone.

He was probably only pretending he’d look, but I switched it off quickly all the same.

‘Stop it, Dad,’ I said, shoving the phone in my jeans pocket.

‘I think you must be right, Helen,’ he said. ‘I’m pretty sure Frankie’s in love!’ He pronounced it ‘lurve’, and pulled a ridiculous face, fluttering his eyelashes and pouting.

‘Yes, I am,’ I said, holding my head high.

‘For heaven’s sake, Richard, stop teasing her and let’s watch the film in peace. We’re missing half the plot, aren’t we, Rowena?’ said Granny – but no one was watching the film now, even Granny herself.

‘So what’s this boy’s name?’ Dad said.

Zara looked at me sharply. She shook her head. But I couldn’t stop myself.

‘It’s not a boy,’ I told him.

‘It’s not a man, is it?’ he asked, not joking any more.

‘It’s a girl,’ I said.

‘You’re in love with a girl?’ he repeated stupidly.

‘Yes,’ I said steadily, though my heart was thumping like crazy.

‘Seriously?’

‘Don’t be silly, Richard, of course she’s not serious. She’s obviously just got a crush on one of the older girls at school. It’s a stage all girls go through. When I was Frankie’s age I had a crush on our netball captain,’ said Granny. ‘Such nonsense, but perfectly natural.’

I don’t know who was annoying me more, Dad or Granny. So I decided to show them both.

‘It’s not a schoolgirl crush,’ I said. ‘I’m in love with a girl in my class. And she’s in love with me. We’re girlfriends.’

Zara raised her eyebrows, giving up on me.

Granny looked startled and stood up. ‘I think you’d better go to bed, Rowena,’ she said quickly.

‘But you said I could stay up till the end of the film, Granny,’ she protested.

‘Yes, well, no one’s watching it now. And this conversation isn’t suitable for little girls.’

‘Yes it is!’ said Rowena. ‘I know all about it anyway. You’re talking about Sally, aren’t you, Frankie? I love her too!’

‘Don’t be so silly, Rowena,’ said Granny. ‘Now come upstairs with me. I’ll read you a bedtime story if you like.’

She steered Rowena out of the room, even though Rowena kept protesting. Bear growled softly, sensing the sudden change of atmosphere.

‘I’d better take him out in the garden,’ I said.

‘Leave him for the moment,’ said Dad. ‘Now tell me what on earth’s going on. Does your mother know about you and this girl?’

‘Sort of,’ I said. I didn’t want him to think I was hiding anything from Mum.

‘Well, why on earth didn’t she tell me? I’m still your father. I need to know these things,’ Dad blustered.

‘Your dad’s only concerned about you, Frankie,’ said Helen.

‘I don’t see why.’ I looked Dad straight in the eye. ‘Are you implying it’s wrong for me to be in love with a girl?’

‘I think you’re a little young to be in love with anyone. Of course I don’t think it’s wrong as such. I just think your granny might actually be right. This is probably just a little crush – in a year or two you’ll suddenly fall for a boy and—’

‘Get married and have his children and then get my heart broken when he leaves me?’ I said.

I wanted to hurt Dad, but he was suddenly smiling.

‘I get it now! This is just a reaction to my leaving your mother. I know it’s hit you really hard, Frankie. You’ve been furious with me. I can understand that too. You’re off men in a big way – so you’re kidding yourself you’re into girls instead.’ He sat back, shaking his head at me fondly.

‘I’m not “into girls”,’ I said, hating the expression. ‘It’s just Sally. I love her.’

‘It’s not real love, Frankie, not at your age, though I know it feels like it.’

‘How do you know what I feel? It is love. Please shut up about it. You’re spoiling it all.’ I was suddenly horribly near tears.

‘Give her a break, Dad,’ said Zara.

‘So she’s confided in you, has she?’ Dad asked. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Look, I’m not going to spy on my sister and then report back to you!’ said Zara. ‘It’s nothing to do with me anyway. It’s up to Frankie.’

‘Yes, but you don’t want her getting teased at school if she goes around mooning after this girl, do you?’

I knew that this was exactly what Zara was worried about, but she was wonderful.

‘Oh, Dad, get a grip. Being gay isn’t a big deal nowadays. Honestly! Come on, Frankie, we’ll both take Bear out for his wee,’ she said, taking my hand and pulling me out of the room, Bear bounding after us eagerly.

I’d put on the black fur and wound my scarf twice round my neck, but I still shivered as we took Bear down the lane. My eyes stung and the tears started sliding down my face. We only had a little torch and it didn’t throw out much light, but Zara knew I was crying. She put her arm round me and gave me a big hug.

‘Oh, Zara, you’re such a pal,’ I said, snuffling. ‘And I know you don’t even like Sally.’

‘I’m not having Dad sitting there so smugly, patronizing you, with Helen looking earnest like she’s a psychiatrist and patting her stomach all the time,’ she said. ‘How dare they!’

‘My loving Sally is nothing to do with Dad leaving Mum,’ I said furiously.

‘I know. Dad’s got such a giant ego. He thinks he’s the most important person in everyone’s lives. Imagine expecting me to rush to him, telling tales about your personal life!’

‘I hated the way he talked about it – as if I was pathetic,’ I said. ‘I’d sooner he was shocked and disapproving.’

‘I think he is underneath, actually,’ said Zara. ‘He just wants to make out he’s cool about it. He’s the pathetic one. He thinks we’re all influenced by him. I’m sure if I’d had a quick bunk-up at the back of the Gold Star and got myself pregnant, he’d say it was just me wanting affection because I was missing him so much.’

‘I get your point,’ I said, wiping my eyes with my woolly mittens. ‘If Rowena started cheeking the teachers and hitting her little friends, Dad would say she was acting up because she didn’t have her daddy with her.’ I stopped. ‘Poor little Ro, wanting us all to live together.’

‘I know. Imagine Dad and Helen and Mum all squashed up in the same bed!’ said Zara.

‘Ugh! Please! And if Bear suddenly ran amok and started biting people, Dad would say it’s because he needs a man in the house, although Bear doesn’t even like men, do you, Bear?’

Bear gave a little bark at the sound of his name and bounded off into the darkness, delighted by all the new country smells and excited by the rustlings in the long grass.

‘Let’s give him a proper walk,’ I said. ‘I’m worried he’s not getting enough exercise. I hate him being cooped up in the house, and every time he wags his tail Granny fusses he’ll knock over some stupid teacup or ornament.’

We should have phoned Dad to let him know, but we couldn’t be bothered. Perhaps we just wanted to worry him a little. After ten minutes both our phones pinged, but we decided to ignore the messages. We went for a marvellous long tramp, and Zara let me go on and on about Sally, and then I let her talk about Gary Masters and whether I thought she’d ever have a chance with him.

I still couldn’t see what she saw in him. He seemed such a showoff, in love with his own looks, but Zara had been so good and loyal to me that I tried to be understanding. I assured her that the kiss at the party had meant as much to him as it did to Zara, and that sooner or later they’d get together again.

We were like two Agony Aunts, tactfully advising each other, so engrossed in our conversation that it was a while before we realized we’d somehow got lost. We’d thought we were walking down a long stony track, our usual route, but when we shone the dim torch at our feet we saw we’d somehow strayed onto a grassy path.

‘Well, we simply have to turn and go back the way we came,’ I said, spinning round. ‘Bear, take us back to Granny’s house. Come on, Bear. Good Bear. Show us the way!’

Bear darted this way and that, seemingly purposeful, but it soon became clear he didn’t have a clue where we were either. My phone started ringing. Dad again.

‘If we answer, he’ll come and find us,’ said Zara.

‘Yes, and won’t he crow! He’ll be furious too.’

‘He’ll be furious anyway. He’ll be so worried.’

‘Who cares?’

‘Do you really hate him now?’ Zara asked.

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘But why? I mean, he shouldn’t have had an affair and left Mum, but heaps and heaps of men do that. And I know he can be beyond irritating at times – but he’s still Dad,’ said Zara.

‘I don’t want him to be my dad any more.’

‘Well, he is, whether you like it or not. And I’m going to answer him.’

‘No! Please don’t!’ I said. ‘We can’t be too far away. We just have to keep following this path, and then somewhere it’ll cross the stony track and then we’ll be back in ten minutes tops. Let’s show him we really don’t need him, Zara.’

‘Well. Let’s see if we can find this wretched track – but if we can’t, we’re phoning. Promise?’

‘Promise,’ I said, linking little fingers with her the way we’d done when we were kids.

We did find it too, though it took much longer than I expected. As soon as we were on the stony track we saw torchlight far away, and then heard Dad’s voice calling and calling, sounding desperate.

My tummy clenched then, and I realized just how mean and irresponsible I’d been. I grasped Bear’s lead and ran helter-skelter towards Dad, ready to throw my arms around his neck and beg him to forgive me – but he wasn’t alone. Helen was there, puffing along, calling too, though surely she’d have been happy if we’d got lost in the woods for ever.

I slowed down. Zara reached Dad first, and sobbed all over him. Dad hugged her tight, not even scolding her, just saying, ‘Thank God, thank God, thank God,’ like a fervent vicar. Then he tried to hug me too, and I didn’t veer away – but I didn’t hug him back either, and I didn’t say sorry.

Granny thanked God as well when we walked back into the house. She didn’t insist I wipe Bear’s big paws as he bounded indoors. She made us all a hot chocolate. But then she got started, telling us how wicked and thoughtless we were, and how they’d all been worried sick.

‘What were you thinking of?’ she demanded. She looked at me. ‘It was your idea to frighten us, wasn’t it, Frankie?’

I shrugged. ‘Think that if you like, Granny,’ I said.

‘Hark at your tone! You need a good slap to put you in your place, my girl,’ she said.

‘Hey, hey, Mum. It’s all right, we’ve got in a tizz about nothing,’ said Dad. ‘Why don’t you go up and check on Rowena, and then go to bed yourself. I’ll deal with the girls.’

Granny mercifully did as he suggested. I wanted Helen to go to bed too, but she stayed put, her hands clasped over her stomach as if she was protecting the baby.

‘What was all this about, Zara and Frankie?’ Dad asked.

‘It wasn’t about anything, Dad,’ Zara said quickly. ‘We just took Bear for a walk, that’s all.’

‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I always take Bear out before I go to bed,’ I said.

‘For five minutes. You’ve been gone well over an hour.’ Dad looked at his watch. ‘An hour and a half!’

‘We just got a bit lost in the dark,’ said Zara. ‘Sorry if you got worried.’

‘Your father was frantic. We all were. We thought something terrible had happened to you,’ said Helen. ‘Why wouldn’t you answer your phones? Your dad tried and tried to get in contact with you.’

‘Goodness, did he?’ I said. I got out my phone. ‘Oh yes, missed calls. There can’t have been a signal out in the woods.’

Zara gave me an admiring glance. ‘Yes, I’ve got missed calls too. So sorry, Dad,’ she said.

But Dad saw the glance and narrowed his eyes. ‘Stop trying to act the innocent. You were clearly up to something. You weren’t trying to run away, were you?’

‘Oh, Dad! Why would we run away?’ asked Zara.

‘Like children in an Enid Blyton story! Did you think we were going to find a hollow tree and set up home?’ I said.

‘Your granny was right about you, Frankie,’ said Helen. ‘You do deserve a good slapping. You think you’re so smart and clever with all your wisecracks. You’ve no idea how much you worry your poor dad. He can’t do anything right in your eyes. He spent a fortune on a new phone for you and yet you barely said thank you.’

‘I didn’t ask him to spend a fortune on me,’ I said angrily. I bitterly resented her chiming in with her two pennyworth. ‘Look, take your wretched phone back.’ I held it out to him.

He just shook his head wearily. ‘I can see there’s no point talking to you when you’re in this kind of mood,’ he said. ‘You’d better both go to bed.’

‘We really are sorry we worried you, Dad,’ said Zara, kissing him. ‘Night, Dad. Night, Helen.’

I ignored them and settled Bear down on his bed in the utility room. Then we went upstairs. Rowena was reading her Worst Witch book by torchlight.

‘Everyone was so worried about you two,’ she said earnestly. ‘I was too. I thought you might have both tripped in the dark and broken all your legs so you were just lying there in agony and no one would find you and then you’d die and I wouldn’t have any sisters any more.’

‘Oh, Ro,’ we said. She scrabbled out of bed and sat between us while we both hugged her.

‘Bear would have come running back home to fetch help for us if we’d broken all our legs,’ I said. ‘That sounds so weird, like we’ve got four legs each.’

‘Don’t tease, Frankie. I was so scared I started crying,’ said Rowena.

‘Oh, darling,’ said Zara, rocking her.

We made a huge fuss of her, and as soon as she was tucked up again she fell straight to sleep.

‘I feel awful, worrying her so,’ I whispered.

‘I think she was exaggerating for effect,’ said Zara.

‘It’s kind of a relief, feeling sorry,’ I said. ‘I seem to have become a whole new person. I almost enjoy being horrid to Dad and Helen and Granny.’

‘You’re channelling your inner Sally,’ Zara told me.

That brought me up short. ‘Really?’

‘You’ve even started tossing your head the way she does, and doing that smile of hers.’

‘I haven’t!’ I said, but I wondered if she might be right.

I texted Sally, telling her we’d had a bit of a family drama and I was missing her heaps. I ended it with three loves too, and a whole row of kisses. I had a text back almost straight away, but it was just Mum to say goodnight. I lay awake for ages, waiting and wondering.

I didn’t hear a word from her the next day either. I sent her a text just in case she’d accidentally wiped all my messages and forgotten to tap my number into her contacts. I sent her several texts actually, trying to sound as casual as I could. And then, when she still didn’t reply, I started on variations of R u alrite? I tried to make them funny so I wouldn’t sound too needy.

R u upside down in a snowdrift?

R u sliding down down down a glacier?

R u dangling from a ski lift screaming help?

But then I began to take my stupid suggestions seriously. What if she really was hurt? People had skiing accidents all the time. Perhaps she’d broken both her wrists and couldn’t use her fingers for texting. Perhaps she’d had a serious fall and was lying in a hospital bed, unconscious. Her parents probably didn’t even know I existed, so they couldn’t let me know.

I asked Zara to text me just in case my phone had somehow stopped working. She did as I asked, but shook her head at me. The message pinged onto my screen immediately.

I gave a great sigh.

‘Oh, Frankie,’ said Zara. ‘Don’t get in such a state.’

‘But I can’t understand it. Why isn’t she texting me? I think she’s had an accident!’ My voice rose, and Granny heard me from the kitchen.

‘Maybe this is God’s punishment for refusing to answer your phone last night,’ she called.

She couldn’t see me so I pulled a hideous face at her.

‘I’m positive Sally’s had an accident,’ I whispered to Zara.

‘Then phone her and find out.’

‘But if she’s in plaster or whatever, she won’t be able to answer, will she?’

‘But she’ll have someone with her, and they’ll answer, won’t they? Go on, try. Put yourself out of your misery,’ Zara argued.

‘Won’t it be very expensive phoning Switzerland?’ I said feebly.

I didn’t care about the expense – although I knew Dad would be cross when the bill arrived. I was desperate to find out about Sally, but scared of actually talking to her. But after another hour of agonizing I pressed her number and then the CALL option.

I waited, my heart beating fast, all my nerves jumping.

‘Hi, sorry, can’t come to the phone right now. Please leave a message. Cheers!’

It was Sally’s recorded voice, so matter-of-fact and cheery. My throat was so dry I could barely speak after the tone.

‘Hi, Sally, it’s Frankie. Just wondering if you’re OK as I haven’t heard for a bit. Anyway, see you soon. Is it still OK to come to the party? Bye then.’

It sounded such a feeble message and my voice was a bit wobbly. ‘Oh God, she’ll think me such a fool,’ I said to Zara.

‘You sounded OK. Ish,’ she said.

‘I sounded pathetic. I am pathetic. I’m just so worried that something’s happened to her.’ I lowered my voice to the tiniest whisper. ‘Or maybe – maybe she’s gone off me already and is deliberately blanking me.’

‘I hate to keep saying this, but maybe she’s just playing games with you,’ said Zara. ‘I’ve seen her acting like that with the mousy friend, laughing with her one minute and then putting her down the next.’

I thought about Sally and Marnie. ‘I suppose,’ I said reluctantly. ‘But I’m not like Marnie!’

‘No, you’re not. You’re my sister, Frankie, and you’ve got too much spirit to let someone turn you into a jelly. The next time she texts you, don’t reply for ages. Play her at her own game,’ said Zara.

‘I don’t think there’ll be a next time,’ I said miserably.

But there was. Sally texted at twenty past midnight, waking me up. I found the message, my hands trembling.

Soz, Snowgirl’s been partying! But back soon and love love love uuuuuu, Sally xxx