Irritated when she disconnected as soon as she’d had her say, Frank tried to call her back. It went to voicemail, but before he could try again, a tap came at the door.

‘Yes?’ he barked.

‘You forget tea,’ Irena said, eyeing him nervously when she came into the room.

‘Thanks,’ Frank muttered, tossing the phone onto the bed. ‘And sorry for snapping.’

‘It did not go well with daughter?’

‘Not really, no.’

‘She does not like me be here, but I understand this. She is worry about you.’

‘More like she’s annoyed because she can’t jump in her car and come over here to boss me about,’ said Frank. Then, tutting softly, he shook his head. ‘Sorry, love. I shouldn’t be involving you in this. It’s between me and Jo.’

‘But is because of me, so I am already involve,’ said Irena. ‘Maybe I can speak with her and tell her I am leave soon.’

‘Believe me, it wouldn’t make any difference,’ Frank said wearily. ‘She’s as stubborn as a mule when she gets something into that daft head of hers. But there’s nothing I can do about it while she’s ignoring my calls, so I’m just going to have to wait for her to contact me again.’

‘I hope is soon,’ Irena said, reaching out and touching his shoulder. ‘I do not like to see you upset.’

Frank had a flashback of her lying naked beneath him the previous night, and he backed away from her when he felt his cheeks start to burn. His and Maureen’s sex life had pretty much gone on hold after his heart attack, but it had completely died out after her cancer diagnosis. And he’d been absolutely fine with that, so he didn’t understand why his sleeping body had responded so strongly to Irena’s touch – or why his stomach was fluttering now.

‘Drink your tea before it get cold,’ Irena said, backing toward the door. ‘I will go and see what I can make for dinner while you have bath. Let me know if you need help to wash your back.’

‘Sorry?’ Frank snapped his head up.

‘I say let me know if you need help with neighbour’s cat.’ She smiled. ‘I grew up near farm, and I am good with animal.’

‘Oh, right,’ he murmured. ‘Sorry, I misheard you.’

‘You are tired, and this can cause confusion,’ she said. ‘Take bath and try to relax.’

‘I’ll try,’ he agreed, returning her smile as she left the room.

When he’d heard her going downstairs, he headed into the bathroom and locked the door before turning the taps off and getting undressed. Exhausted by the walk to and from Yvonne’s – and everything that had happened since – he stepped into the water and released a blissful sigh as the heat soothed his tense muscles.