‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do,’ Kenny said.

‘OK.’

‘I have to go. Stay in touch, yeah?’

Jenny ended the call. She was still holding that book, the flower and the spanner, one transforming into the other as if it was that easy to change your life. Maybe if she read the book she could come up with another way to live, another way to see the world.

She returned the book to the shelf and went back to the kitchen. The three of them were sitting around the table sighing like people do after someone says something funny but poignant. Jenny always seemed to miss the joke. They lifted their drinks in unison as if hearing a telepathic message that Jenny was deaf to.

Craig looked at Dorothy.

‘But what about the businesses?’ he said, as if continuing a conversation.

Dorothy smiled. ‘I have Archie and Indy.’

‘Indy’s training to become a funeral director,’ Hannah said, beaming with pride.

‘That’s great,’ Craig said. He lifted his glass and pointed at the two whiteboards on the wall. ‘But there’s a lot to do. Jim was…’ Maybe he didn’t want to remind the women of their loss.

Dorothy nodded, acknowledging Craig’s diplomacy, then gazed into her glass, swilled the Highland Park, watched as it clung to the sides then slipped down.

Jenny knew what was coming, she’d expected it since she got 13the news about Dad. She was surprised it hadn’t been mentioned earlier, but here it was, she was ready.

Dorothy took a sip, stared at her glass. ‘I thought maybe Jenny could help out. Stay for a bit, keep me company.’ Now she looked up. ‘Just for a while.’

Jenny thought about the phone call, her overdue rent, that stupid book with the flower on it. She could smell lily pollen and whisky and she thought about never seeing her dad again.

‘Sure.’

14

3

HANNAH

Hannah took Indy’s hand as they walked through the front garden. She glanced back at the first-floor window knowing Gran would be there. She smiled and waved then turned away. It felt weird leaving her alone, but Mum was just nipping to her flat across town in Portobello to pick up a few things and coming straight back. It was good they’d be spending time together, they needed each other right now. Everyone needs someone. She leaned over and kissed Indy on the cheek.

‘What’s that for?’

‘Can’t I kiss my girlfriend’s beautiful face?’

Indy mimed being sick, fingers down her throat.

‘Piss off,’ Hannah laughed.