‘Wonderful is pushing it a bit … it’s only pizza from Gino’s round the corner with cheap cider, but thanks. You know, I’d be lost without you.’ And she smiled ruefully.

‘And stop that too, Grace. You have a lot to contend with,’ he motioned with his head up at the ceiling, ‘and I reckon you’re doing pretty well keeping on top of it all by yourself.’ Silence between them followed. ‘And what was that thwack on the wall earlier?’ he added to change the subject.

‘Oh, that must have been when she threw the TV remote control at me – it narrowly missed my head and hit the wall,’ she told him, staring at the swirly patterned carpet that had been on the floor since she was a small child. The same carpet she had stared at when Mum was frequently giving Dad what for … screaming at him for whatever perceived misdemeanour he had committed that day.

‘Grace, I’m so sorry. Come here.’ And he moved closer to give her a hug. ‘I’ll talk to her,’ he said, rubbing her back.

‘I don’t think there’s any point in doing that, Jamie. She was adamant. I didn’t even get as far as discussing possible care options, or telling her that Bernie, Sinead and Mikey have all offered to pay for someone to help out. And I didn’t dare tell her about Mikey’s suggestion to put her in a home … as that would have tipped her over the edge for sure.’

‘Well, maybe you should have told her!’ Jamie said, fired up. ‘It might make her realise just how lucky she is to have you …’

Chapter 11