Mindful that she shouldn’t leave Joanna for too long, she picked a bunch of oregano and thyme and headed back into the kitchen.

Joanna was looking doubtfully at the small mound on the chopping board. “I’ve finished the onion but the pieces are too big.”

“They’re fine, but if you want them smaller just make a few more cuts with your knife.” Ashley resisted the temptation to take over. “Maybe use a bigger knife.”

Joanna selected a bigger knife and chopped gingerly. “Now what?”

“Heat the olive oil in the pan, and gently fry those onions until they start to soften and brown a little at the edges. While you’re doing that, you can chop the garlic.”

“I don’t put the garlic in at the same time?”

“You can if you want to, just don’t burn it. You have a good herb garden.” She rinsed the herbs and handed the bunch to Joanna. “Pull the leaves off and we’re going to add it to our sauce.”

“If I don’t watch the onion it will burn. Trust me.”

“You have the heat too high. Turn it down.”

Step by step, side by side, they made the sauce, adding herbs and garlic, chopping fresh tomatoes, letting the whole lot simmer.

Joanna stirred the sauce. “You did this with your mother?”

“Yes. She thought it was important that I learn to cook, and once I’d mastered the basics and a few recipes, we took it in turns.”

“She sounds like a wise woman. You’re lucky.”

“It’s generous of you to say that, considering everything. And it helps me to acknowledge the good stuff.” Ashley thought about all the times she’d cooked side by side with her mother and was grateful for the positive memory. Lately all her memories of her mother had been linked with Cliff. “I’ve been feeling so angry with her, and pretty confused. And that makes me feel guilty.”

“I don’t think you should feel guilty. She kept a big secret from you. It’s natural that you would feel hurt and upset about it. It doesn’t mean you didn’t love her. It doesn’t mean she didn’t have plenty of wonderful qualities.”

“You said you’d tell me about Cliff—”

Joanna stopped stirring. “I will, but do you mind if we do that another time? If I think about Cliff now, I won’t be able to cook.”

“It can wait,” Ashley said quickly. “We need to boil the water ready for the pasta now.”

“I never know exactly when it’s cooked.”

“That’s easy—I’ll show you. Use a big pan—plenty of water.” Ashley couldn’t believe that no one had taught Joanna any of this. She’d been married to a top chef for two decades. “Did Cliff cook for you all the time?”