There was a time you didn’t want to know your granddaughter, Keelin thought sourly.

‘Ah, Gran, don’t be like that.’ Marie-Claire put her arm around her grandmother’s shoulders when she came back into the kitchen. ‘Una’s not as young as she used to be and it’s a big undertaking, organizing a surprise party like that. Now come on, don’t be cross. We’re going to have a lovely family gathering with lots of fun and frolics – what could be better than that?’ she cajoled, giving Imelda a squeeze before running upstairs.

It had started to rain lightly, a fine mist that swept in from the coast, as she threw her case into the boot of her hire car and blew a kiss at her parents and grandmother, who stood at the door to wave her off. Marie-Claire exhaled, driving through Ardcloch. She was glad to be on her own. Glad not to have to keep up a façade of cheeriness when all she wanted to do was to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out. The long drive to the Four Winds was just what she needed.

She’d hardly left the main street when her phone rang on Bluetooth. ‘Hi, Ella,’ she said with pretend cheeriness. ‘How are things?’

‘I was ringing to ask you the same,’ her friend laughed. ‘Were they thrilled to see you?’

‘Ah, they were, it was a huge surprise to them and it was great to see them and be with them.’

‘And how’s your little heart doing?’ Ella asked kindly.

‘Little heart’s a bit battered,’ Marie-Claire admitted, exceedingly glad that she didn’t have to put on an act for her best friend. ‘Actually, I was doing OK until I remembered that this morning, if I was in Canada, I’d be heading off to New York to hold the interviews. But I’ll get over it,’ she said, swerving to avoid a large pothole.

‘Ah, it’s feckin hard though. One minute you’re tootling along without a bother and then, whack! You don’t know what’s hit you. Anyhoo, remember I was telling you that Granddad Reilly, Mum’s dad, stipulated in his will that he wanted Nana to go on a cruise with her friend after the house was sold and she’d settled in her apartment in Clontarf?’

‘Yeah, I thought it was a lovely thing for him to do. I wish someone would leave me the money to go on a cruise,’ Marie-Claire said humorously.

‘Well, she’s going in five weeks’ time – for three and a half months, if you don’t mind. Up to Alaska, then down the west coast of America, around the Caribbean Islands, across to the Azores, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy and then back to Southampton.’

‘Wowza, I love it! Good woman, Nana Reilly,’ Marie-Claire approved.