‘I can’t just burn things,’ Carla protested. ‘It’s my family history. I need to go through it, maybe identify who I can, then the box can go in the cupboard in the spare room. Maddy’s keen on genealogy, perhaps she’ll want to do the family tree one day.’

David picked up a sealed envelope marked ‘Josette. Private and Confidential’.

‘Wonder what this is. Shall I open it?’

Carla took the envelope from him and examined it curiously. ‘Tempting as it is, I don’t think we should open it. I’ll put it to one side and pop it in the post to Josette next time I go to the post office. I don’t suppose it contains anything of earth-shattering importance to her though.’

‘You could always go for a visit. Deliver it personally,’ David said. ‘You could do with a break after the last couple of months.’

Carla looked at him. ‘True. But you’d be on your own now both the children are living away.’

‘For god’s sake, Carla, I’m quite capable of looking after myself, you know. You haven’t been around looking after me recently anyway.’

‘I didn’t have the choice. Mum’s house had to be sorted. I’m sorry you feel hard done by, but you were busy too. There weren’t many evenings when you were even home to eat dinner.’ She didn’t add: And you were clearly too busy to even offer to help me.

‘No point in coming home when you weren’t here. Easier to work late and eat at the club before coming home.’

David’s look challenged her to argue, but she couldn’t summon the energy, so she ignored it.

‘Don’t worry about me. A break would do you good,’ David said. ‘At least think about it.’

‘To be honest, I’m not sure about visiting Tante Josette. It’s not as if she’s ever issued an invitation.’ Carla looked at David. ‘Are you busy at work for the next few weeks? We could go together?’

‘Not a chance,’ David said. ‘You don’t have to stay with Josette. Just hand her the envelope and if she doesn’t want to talk, you’ve done your bit. Find a hotel and have a few days’ holiday.’

Carla shook her head. ‘I don’t want to go alone. It’s better to post the envelope. I’ll finish going through everything in here in case there’s anything else marked for her.’

David shrugged. ‘Whatever.’

*

A day later, the sorted box of photos was ready to go into the cupboard in the spare room. Pushing it onto the bottom shelf, Carla met with resistance and dropped to her knees to see what was blocking the way. An old shoe box had somehow wedged itself across the back, and as Carla tugged it free, the lid moved and she saw the black velvet jeweller’s box.