‘Indeed not,’ agreed Dan. ‘I was stretching the truth when I said she wasn’t great, she’s just a bit shaken. But even she’d come to realize he was getting through her savings at an alarming rate. But hey, what can you do? It’s her money, and I think they had a few laughs.’

I looked at him, liking him for that. In my opinion, it was entirely up to elderly people what they did with their money and I could sometimes get cross with Helena when she wanted to talk to Mum and Dad about power of attorney and what they should do with their savings. It only made Dad tight-lipped and Mum anxious, and I knew she sort of meant ‘so there’s more when you go’, and I knew Dad sort of knew too. So this was refreshing.

‘He was wearing a sombrero when they found him,’ Dan told us.

‘Good God. Why?’

‘That’s what he’d bought from Lock’s.’

‘Christ. Bit odd. Not quite like other budgerigars, was he?’

‘Not entirely. He thought he and Mum were going to Mexico for Christmas, and let’s face it, Archie could barely get to Waitrose. Ah. Cecily.’ He smiled kindly as my mother appeared with a great deal of make-up on, clutching her handbag and looking rather over-excited. ‘You look splendid.’

‘Do you want me to come with you?’ I asked her, as we walked them to the door.

‘Not a bit of it. Nance will want to tell all, which she can’t do with you there. And, of course, she really can tell all, now that … well. Also, we’ll need to plan the funeral.’

‘Tell me about it.’ Dan rolled his eyes. ‘She’s already chosen the hymns.’

‘And flowers, of course.’ My mother was bustling outside excitedly now. ‘Quite large displays, I should think, in that church. It’s so dreary.’

‘Easy, Mum. He’s barely cold.’ Although I couldn’t help feeling a frisson of guilt as I reprimanded her, for obvious, personal reasons.

‘I hear you lost your own husband. I’m sorry,’ Dan spookily echoed my thoughts, albeit along different lines, and I went bright red and couldn’t look at anyone. But then neither could my parents, and since Mum told Nance everything, Dan no doubt knew the subtext, but because we were English, the motions still had to be gone through.

‘Thank you,’ I muttered in response. ‘I’ll come and get her,’ I told him firmly, as my mother hurried around to the passenger side of his car.

He turned. ‘Oh, there’s no need—’

‘No, I’d like to. In about an hour, so she doesn’t get too tired, and comes back to eat,’ I said quietly, out of Mum’s earshot. My father was opening the door and helping her in.