Shona had visited her mother once every other year, when the boys were old enough, just so they would be able to say they knew their grandmother. She spoke to her about once a month, during which times her mother was always unfailingly critical. Of her parents, perhaps her father was the one who had misbehaved most profoundly, but despite this her father was the one she understood, and the one who had her love, because he had loved her first.

Aware of Dermot’s eyes on her, and the overbearing silence in the room, Shona finally replied. ‘There’s not a lot to tell. I don’t have much of a mother, really,’ she said, sidestepping the question with obvious intent. She with-drew her legs from his lap, indicating unconsciously that she would not be receptive to any further questions on the matter.

‘Do you not think that’s something to tell, in itself?’ said Dermot, pulling her legs back, running his hand over her instep. ‘I didn’t have much of a wife, but the one thing she did provide was conversational subject matter forever and a day.’

‘Ah, but you’re Irish, you love the chance to talk,’ said Shona, seizing the chance to change the subject. ‘What did you say your ex was doing these days?’

Back at home, Shona was surprised to find that the deadlock on the front door was already open. Turning the top key, she called out, Tarvez, did you come back early?’ while she considered several plausible reasons why she wouldn’t have been back home at her normal time.

‘Amma!’ shouted a delighted voice. It was Omar. He ran in from the living room, closely followed by Pat-Bob, and hugged her.

‘Darling, it’s so lovely to see you!’ exclaimed Shona, in genuine delight tinged with just the slightest bit of relief. ‘I thought you were coming back tomorrow. Abbu and I were going to pick you up.’

‘A friend of mine gave me a lift down, I thought I’d surprise you,’ said Omar, cheerfully not mentioning that he and Jim had spent the last two days clubbing in London after their Prelims, and had stayed with a friend in Mile End. ‘My friend Jim, I think I mentioned him? He hung around for a bit to say hello to you, but had to leave about an hour ago.’

‘Yes, sorry darling, I had to … stay a bit later than usual. Staff meeting thing,’ Shona said artlessly. ‘What a shame I missed him.’

As they sat down to tea, Omar spoke brightly about the latest family gossip. ‘What’s the scoop on that angelic new girlfriend of Sharif’s?’ he asked carelessly, less good at keeping other people’s secrets than his own.

Shona’s brow furrowed. ‘They broke up ages ago, darling, not long after Easter, unless he has a new girl-friend he’s not mentioned to me.’