Who could ask for more? When you had such nice messages and feedback, it did really make you feel good about what you did. And, of course, she and Roy would be off on their own holiday very soon: a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean. She had bought a new swimming costume and everything for the occasion. It was going to be heavenly!

But enough of all that. She was walking into the pub now, her heart in her mouth, scanning the people at the bar and wondering if her grandson was already waiting for her.

Roy nudged her. ‘Do you think that’s him?’

Lorna turned in the direction he was pointing, to see a young man with dark hair and broad shoulders rising from a seat in the corner. He looked as tall as his dad had been and had the same way of standing with a slightly tilted head, glancing at them through lashes every bit as thick and sooty as Aidan’s. It was him all right. She would have known him anywhere. Every cell in her body reacted to the sight of him. Is that you? It’s me. It’s me!

And then they were moving towards each other across the pub and a laugh was spilling out of her, a laugh of joyful recognition. ‘Hello, my love,’ she said, feeling the most overwhelming rush of joy. ‘I’m Lorna, your grandmother, and this is Roy. We’re so happy to meet you.’

He smiled and it was like having her boy back again. Just for a moment. ‘Same,’ Leon said, then laughed and wrinkled his nose self-consciously. ‘This is strange, isn’t it? Not every day you meet someone you’re related to. Sorry, I’m babbling. Bit nervous. Would you like a drink?’

But Roy was clapping him on the back and Lorna could see how thrilled he was, how proud he was to be meeting this handsome young man who was something of the past and something of the present – and a whole new future for them too. ‘Hello there, Leon,’ he said. ‘If anyone’s buying drinks, it’ll be us two. We’re made up, we really are. You don’t half look like your dad, you know. You must have so many questions about him, I bet! We’ve brought some photos with us, just in case you wanted to look at them . . .’

And then they were walking together to a table in the corner, all smiling with delight at each other’s presence. For once she didn’t need to kid herself that this was going to be a good day, thought Lorna, marvelling at her grandson’s easy-going confidence, his manners as he pulled out a chair for her, drinking in every last bit of this miracle. Because she knew already – she was sure of it – that this would be a really, really good day.

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