Everything Sophie owns is in the car with our bags, which isn’t much, just one grubby and torn rucksack that’s so full the zipper is coming undone. She is, after all, a runaway from a poor town and impoverished parents.

The trip to the airfield is short and silent as we all mull things over in our heads. Jake has glanced down at his cell many times, and I know he’s been waiting for his mother to call back with more definite plans for Sophie. In the meantime, we have agreed that ...