‘But …’ Grace faltered. She couldn’t go to Italy on her own. Not to the airport. How would she get there? And she certainly couldn’t go on an aeroplane by herself and then navigate her way around a foreign country. Just the thought of it was making her pulse quicken and her top lip glisten with anxiety sweat. Ah, but maybe that’s why Jamie is here: to let me know he’s coming too. ‘It’s a really kind idea,’ she started, not wanting to sound ungrateful, ‘but what about Mum? I can’t leave her on her own.’

‘Yes you can. It’s all sorted. I’ve got loads of annual leave left and if I don’t take it I’ll lose it … so I’m looking after Cora while you’re away,’ Jamie nodded.

‘What? But she wouldn’t have it when I spoke to her about the spa weekend.’

‘And thank God she wouldn’t, because that would have scuppered the whole surprise if you had gone ahead and booked the spa break instead.’ Jamie shook his head. ‘Plus I went to a lot of trouble to find your passport. Why would you keep it at the back of your knicker drawer? And that’s another thing, lady, I’m taking you knicker shopping pronto, as we need to replace those washed-out horrors you have clogging up all the space in your drawers.’ He pulled a face.

‘What? Did you actually rummage through my bedroom?’ Grace asked, flabbergasted. She’d had no idea and felt a tinge of embarrassment on knowing that Jamie had now seen the extent of her apathy over self-care. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had bought new knickers, or indeed anything much for herself apart from food and essential toiletries.

‘Of course!’ Jamie shrugged covertly. ‘How else were we going to book the flights? I know your date of birth and all that, but I wanted to check you in too and get you a nice window seat, so there’s no backing out now.’ And he grinned so hard it made his whole face glow like a lit paper lantern about to soar right up into the air.

‘I can’t believe it. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before.’

‘I know. And that’s another reason why we wanted to,’ he said, and Betty, Larry and Maggie all nodded their agreement.

‘But …’ Grace started again, and Jamie leant forward on the pretext of giving her a hug so he could whisper in her ear.

‘It’ll be fine. Promise you. One step in front of the other. Golden, remember?’ And he gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.