The next morning Lottie woke up and wondered where she was. Then she remembered the events of the night before. She had finally found the woman she'd been dreaming about for what seemed like forever.

As she lay in bed dreaming it suddenly occurred to Lottie that she was hungry so she clambered out of her nice warm bed – or Ruby's bed – and found her way to the kitchen where Charlie was looking through some papers.

"Hey," she said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Can I get something to eat?"

"Sure. What do you want? Toast, cereal, yoghurt or you can just ransack the fridge."

"I'd like some bread please, I'll make myself a sandwich."

Charlie handed the bread to Lottie who proceeded to apply a thick layer of peanut butter to each slice. Then she took a banana which she cut up and placed it in between the bread and ate her peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Charlie watched her with interest. "Is that a nice combination?" she asked.

Lottie nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. You'll have to try it."

Charlie looked like she could do without that meal.

At that point Ruby came bouncing through the door. "Hi Charlie, I thought I'd be too late to see you, but..." she trailed off as she noticed Lottie. "Oh," she said, "I've forgotten about you."

Lottie just continued to eat her sandwich.

Charlie got up and went to talk to Ruby by the door. "Rubes, be nice. The girl's just lost her dad and is in an unfamiliar country. I would really like it if you could make an effort to get to know her. It would be very nice if both my daughters could be friends with each other."

"Yes, yes, OK," Ruby said unrelentingly.

The two of them came back and sat at the table with Lottie.

"So Lottie," said Ruby trying to make conversation and not doing very well, "how do you like the bay?"

"Well I haven't really seen much of it, but it looks pretty cool."

"That's an idea, maybe you could show Lottie round after school Rubes," suggested Charlie.

"No, sorry I can't. Liam and I have got some work to do. Anyway Charlie, why aren't you wearing your uniform, you've got to be at work in ten minutes."

"Yes, I've called in sick today. I've got some things to do with Lottie."

Ruby raised her eyebrows and her disbelievingly. "And you tell me off for wagging," she muttered. "OK well I'm going to be a good girl and go to school," she said and left.

Charlie sighed, having one daughter was bad enough – now she had two to deal with.

"Are you still a police person then?" asked Lottie. "My dad told me you were training to be one when you guys met." Lottie got up to get a drink of water and then sat cross-legged on the table instead of the chair which she evidently found more comfortable.

"Yes I am," Charlie looked up at her. "Why are you sitting on the table?"

"I usually sit on the table at home. Do you mind?" said Lottie perfectly innocently.

"No, no not at all. You can sit on the table if you really want to," replied Charlie, thinking this girl was quite mad.

"I used to want to be a police person," said Lottie who had the ability to talk for England, "'cause basically all I knew about you was what you did and I wanted to be just like you. But then I changed my mind."

"What do you want be now then?" Charlie was wondering if she should be offended

"An artist."

"Oh that's nice. There's lots of places round here which are really good to paint or draw. I've never tried that because I was never good at art, but..."

"Oh no, I don't want to be that kind of artist. I want to be an artist like my dad. I'm a guitarist."

"Like he was?"

"Yeah. He taught me everything I know. I never go anywhere without my guitar and I always carry a notebook in case I get any inspiration for songs. I did write a song about you once. I'd never play it though 'cause I wrote it when I was like five and it is terrible!"

Charlie nodded. "You and Ruby should get together, she's pretty into this musical stuff too. Well all I can say is neither of you get it from me. Now I've got to make lots of phone calls to arrange your staying with me permanently if that's what you want, so do you think you can occupy yourself for a while?"

Lottie nodded and immediately headed for her guitar. Charlie spent the morning making phone calls and then she took Lottie shopping. When they got home she made another phone call and Lottie when back to her guitar. A few minutes later Charlie put her head round Ruby's bedroom door.

"Lottie can you do something else or take that thing else where – I can't hear!"

So Lottie sighed and decided to go for a walk along the beach. She put her guitar over her body and headed out, strumming all the way.