‘Dear God. Oh dear God!’ She could see he was truly shocked and grieved. ‘Now you say it, the way that priest talked about him . . . He didn’t mention it, but there was a shadow in the way he spoke of him. Patrick was a sweet lad as a youngster – too sweet for this world.’

‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘He drove Mom to distraction, but she needed him – and he needed someone, and somewhere to be.’

‘In that case, I’m glad. He did something for me that I would never have guessed, God rest him.’

They sat talking for well over two hours. As they passed through the big department store out into the cold street, Katie had a prickly feeling that Vera was there, somewhere, watching. And she said so to Michael O’Neill.

‘Heaven forbid!’ was all he said.

Outside there was a light drizzle and for a moment they were both at a loss. Then both went to speak at once.

‘You first,’ she said.

He seemed wary now, his eyed veiled. ‘I’ve told you – I can’t offer you anything much . . .’

Her anger flared. Was he implying that she was after something, might be on the make? ‘Why would you think I need anything from you after all this time?’

‘I just mean . . . Look, I don’t know. It’s a difficult thing, to disturb a family after all this time.’

‘Your wife, Anne – she knows I exist?’

He looked down at the wet pavement. ‘No.’

Bitterness filled her. ‘I see. So you were only truthful up to a point?’

He looked up. ‘You’ve grown into a tough woman, Katie.’

She felt her mouth twist. ‘It’s what life has taught me. Mother’s milk.’

He seemed to soften. ‘I’d like us to see each other. I’d like everyone to meet each other, for it to be good, but we can’t be sure of that. They might take it very badly.’

Despite her anger, Katie could see that this was costing him something. After all, he could have stayed away forever. And she realized that she didn’t want her own life disturbed too abruptly, either.

‘Let’s meet again like this, shall we?’ he said. ‘Take it slowly?’

And she agreed. That would be a start. They arranged to meet in three weeks’ time.

He looked down at her, with an open gaze now. ‘I’m sorry, Katie – for all of it.’

Something in her relaxed a fraction. She had needed to hear his apology.

‘So am I,’ she said.

She longed to go back and pour it all out to Marek – all that they had said, and how she felt. It was the first time she had ever felt that way, that she could say everything she needed to say without fear.

When she got back to Sybil’s house, Sybil was in the kitchen and Michael with her, standing on a stool, making pastry. He was wrapped in a large apron liberally dusted with flour.