And it was incredible how she had stopped counting steps. She had first become conscious of this as she walked to the departure gate at London’s Heathrow, having stopped off in duty free to treat herself to some new make-up, a pair of sunglasses, a couple of bikinis and a divine, coconutty-smelling sun cream especially formulated for redheads with fair, freckly skin, figuring she might get to do some sunbathing … when she wasn’t busy searching for Connie’s relatives, of course. Her counsellor had said this might happen: that once she was distanced from her everyday life and away from what her subconscious detected as constraint – in other words, caring full time for a controlling mother was grinding her down – then she might flourish and no longer seek the security of counting steps. And so she was delighted to discover that he had been entirely right in his prediction.

Grace felt unencumbered and free for the first time in a very, very long time, certainly since she had moved back into her childhood home after the break-up with Matthew. But that was in the past and she was determined to focus on the here and the now in glorious, sumptuous, romantic and stunningly beautiful Italy. She was here for six days and fully intended on making the most of this wonderful, generous gift that lovely, kind Larry and Betty had given her. Not to mention the generous gift that Jamie was giving her by minding Cora – which reminded her, she must call him to make sure all was OK. Or should she? Jamie had been adamant last night when he came round to wish her a good trip that she should not call, saying he wanted her to have a proper break and would be in touch if disaster struck, which was extremely unlikely given that he was an experienced nurse. And, well … ‘I could always confiscate her telly remote control if she gives me too much grief,’ he had added to lighten the mood when Grace had wobbled and very nearly started unpacking her suitcase, worried that Cora would just be too much for him with her continuous calls for attendance throughout the nights.

After collecting her suitcase, Grace headed to the arrivals section of the airport where she was due to meet Ellis before travelling with him to the little Airbnb townhouse they were to share whilst here in Venice overnight. Betty had told her all about it being right next to the water with a tiny balcony, and Grace couldn’t wait to get there and see it for herself. Then tomorrow afternoon they were going to take the train to Santa Margherita to see where Connie had lived in the powder pink villa on the hillside. Betty had said the train trip looked like the nicest way for them to travel, as they’d get to sit back and enjoy a picture-postcard tour of the Italian scenery along the way.