Jez showed them round the main areas, unable to conceal his pride in the various period features: the high ceilings, moulded plasterwork cornices, the old-fashioned fireplaces with carved wooden surrounds and the row of leadlights at the top of the windows. ‘There’s a lot to do to get the place in shape, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never lived in an older house before and this one has such character.’

‘You’ve made a lot of progress already,’ Sophie said. ‘It’s feeling more like a home.’

‘Donna has to take the credit for that.’

When they got to the studio, he waved his son forward. ‘I’ll let Tom explain the equipment, because he’s the one who set it up. I know how to use it but he really understands how it works.’

As they walked back into the hall, Tom suggested taking Andi across to meet his children.

Donna said she’d go across too, because she wanted to check that everything was to Jane’s satisfaction.

Sophie watched her daughter leave, worrying that Andi would have one of her flare-ups of misery or anger and say something she shouldn’t.

‘Donna will keep an eye on her,’ Jez said quietly. ‘Come here and let me hold you.’

Since Kevin had disappeared once they entered the house, they were alone. She moved closer and put her arms round Jez’s neck, resting her head against his cheek. It felt so good to be close to him that she sighed in pleasure.

‘I could get very used to this,’ he murmured into her hair.

‘Me, too.’ Every time she was alone with him, she felt so ‘right’.

Sometimes you just had to trust your instincts, whether your children approved of your choices or not.

Tom led the way into his cottage, calling out to let Jane know it was him. Andi followed, wondering why she was doing this. But she did like children and she’d do almost anything to stop herself thinking about that.

There were giggles and Hayley came running down the stairs. She’d gained so much momentum by the time she realised her father wasn’t alone that trying to stop made her lose her balance and start falling.

Andi was nearest and managed to catch her, while Tom made sure Ryan got down the stairs safely. They exchanged relieved smiles.

The feel of the small body in her arms brought back memories of happier times. For several years Andi had earned money by babysitting a neighbour’s children, but it hadn’t felt like work because she loved littlies and they usually seemed to behave for her.

Her mother had suggested she go into childcare as a career, but her father had said it didn’t pay well and was a waste of a good brain, so she’d enrolled in a university course mainly to please him. In the end he’d died before she finished the first year and she’d been too upset to study, or even think about taking her exams. She still didn’t regret trying to please him, but maybe here was an idea for her future, looking after children.