‘In fact, if it’s all right by you, I’d rather poke around on my own, if you don’t mind,’ said Josh. ‘These houses all have an identical layout and I’ve seen three already.’ He smiled. ‘No dark secrets, I take it?’

The jug slipped from my fingers and smashed on the floor. Milk shot everywhere.

‘God!’ I lunged for a dishcloth in the sink. ‘So stupid,’ I muttered, mopping and squeezing as Ned put the bits of broken china in the dustpan he’d got from the cupboard. ‘No, no secrets. Absolutely not. Do have a good look around.’ I threw the J-cloth in the bin, my face hot. Ned calmly put the milk carton on the island but as Josh disappeared, he was watching me, I could tell. I gave the simmering percolator a degree of unnecessary attention.

‘How did you find Imo?’ I asked, with my back to him, before he could say anything.

‘Hm? Oh, fine. On good form, I thought. I mean – all things considered. She looks great.’

‘Imo always looks great.’ My daughter was very beautiful. ‘But in herself? Sad about Ben?’

Ned sighed. ‘Mum, you’ve got to stop worrying and treating us both as boxes to be ticked. Imo will find someone. She’s just – you know …’

‘A bad picker?’ I turned to look at him properly.

‘Is that what worries you? That you were, so she will be?’

‘I think it’s why she gives up so easily. James, Tommy, Ed – and now Ben – and there was nothing wrong with any of them! I think she panics.’

Ned sighed. He’d heard it all before. ‘Whereas I won’t pick at all. Poor Mum.’ He got up and put an arm round my shoulders, squeezing them and giving me his naughty grin. He looked just like his grandfather.

‘Darling, if you are gay, you know you can tell me. I’ve told you that a million times.’

‘You have, but I’m not.’

‘Or bisexual?’

‘You say that so weirdly. Why all the syllables? Sex-u-al.’

‘Ned …’

He laughed. ‘No, not that, either.’

‘So, hetero.’

He shrugged. ‘I guess. If you must have a label.’

‘I must. And you’re not even a priest, like Damien. It’s allowed, for God’s sake, in the C of E, and—’

‘Mum, breathe. Breathe.’ He led me to a stool, where I slumped down, defeated. ‘You’ll last longer. Anyway, Damien is gay.’

‘Is he?’ I brightened. ‘Oh good, he’s finally come out. Well, lucky Marion.’

Ned grinned and poured the coffee. ‘Yes, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?’

‘It would give me something to work with.’

‘You mean scouring dating sites?’

I blinked. I hadn’t considered this. Could one? For other people? ‘Maybe.’

‘Yes, Marion’s been busy. But she still likes to double-check. When Damien goes home for the weekend she says – hello, darling, lovely to see you. Still gay?’