Josie allowed herself to be distracted. ‘One game each. This one’s the decider.’

‘You play and Maria can watch. I’ll make drinks,’ Hannah suggested brightly, popping Maria onto a chair now she’d cheered up. She made Josie a glass of juice and tea for her and Nan, putting it on the dresser where Nan could reach it but Maria wouldn’t knock it over. Then she carried a cup to Nico, closing the door behind her.

He looked more his normal self now, on his feet and eyes dry, if a bit pink. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered, thanking her as he took the mug she proffered. ‘It was the shock. I knew as soon as I saw Mattias’s name that there was something wrong because I’m always the one to ring or email.’ He drew in a long breath through his nose as if fighting emotion again. ‘It’s as if being separated during our teen years has all but severed our fraternal tie.’ He stopped. ‘I’m babbling. Still in shock.’ He sat down again suddenly. ‘I’m a mess. Loren’s gone into rehab.’

‘I didn’t know that about Loren,’ Hannah said softly, feeling sorry for Nico and the way everything was landing on him at once. ‘That’s why you agreed to take Maria to Sweden with you?’

He nodded, cradling his teacup. ‘I got the call when we were in the pub on Sunday but I couldn’t say anything with Josie listening.’ He looked directly at Hannah and added, ‘All there is between Loren and me is Josie and, via kinship link, Maria.’

‘Oh,’ she said. That wasn’t how he’d made it sound over that last uneasy meal in Stockholm but now didn’t seem the time to ask for clarification.

He returned to the immediate issue. ‘I was wondering about bringing our flights forward to tomorrow but I haven’t begun packing yet.’ He swallowed hard. ‘Dad doesn’t seem in immediate danger.’

‘I thought I was having a shitty day but you’ve put it in perspective,’ she said. And remembering how much better she’d felt when Josie had thrown her arms about Hannah, she leaned in and gave him a good hard hug. ‘Why don’t I make soup and sandwiches for us all? Nan loves having kids around. I don’t have to go out again until after two.’

Nico didn’t even pretend to fight this plan. ‘Thank you.’ He followed Hannah into the kitchen, smiling and telling Josie calmly that Farfar wasn’t well so it was a good job they were going to Sweden anyway.

Josie agreed, ‘Good job!’ and turned to Maria with an exaggerated gasp of excitement. ‘We’re going on an aeroplane in two more sleeps!’

Maria made the same noise, beaming, too young to get what was going on but happy at whatever made her sister happy.