‘Well.’ Vivvi made an ungainly hand-waving, shrugging motion as if shaking off responsibility. ‘I must go home. It’s Red’s triple heart bypass tomorrow. The problem arteries aren’t easily accessible and he’ll go into intensive care. I’ll take Loren home with me. I hadn’t bargained for it but at least I’ve taken time off to look after Redfern. We’ll have to try and make the best of things.’

Heart in his boots, Nico managed to murmur, ‘I hope Red does well after his op.’

Vivvi zipped her coat. ‘Thanks. It means I can’t help you with Maria. Sorry, but there it is.’ She didn’t quite look him in the eye.

‘Help me with your granddaughter?’ His teeth felt as if they’d been welded together he gritted them so hard.

Vivvi’s lip trembled. ‘Tonight’s my last with Redfern before his big op. I can’t look after a two-year-old. What would I do with her while I’m visiting Red?’

‘You’re taking Loren with you. Can’t you cover it between you?’ Tension slithered around Nico’s forehead and yanked itself tight.

‘What exactly do you want me to do? Leave Loren here to overdose?’ Vivvi flashed, illogically, as Nico hadn’t mentioned anything of the kind. She dashed tears from her eyes. ‘I’ll ring her surgery for advice tomorrow but I don’t know what else to do! Any good ideas in that chief executive head of yours? And don’t say send Maria to her birth father because Loren doesn’t even know how to contact him. I expect the authorities might but goodness knows how long that would take.’

It wasn’t the time to point out that he was at least two management levels down from a CEO. He responded icily. ‘Her birth father’s a stranger to her anyway. I suppose I’ll have to keep her for a few days.’ Then, catching the sound of approaching voices, ‘Here are the girls.’

Hostilities suspended, he managed a smile as he turned to see Josie, looking grown up next to Maria. ‘Hello, Grandma!’ said Josie.

‘Ganma,’ said Maria.

‘Girls!’ Vivvi, too, managed a smile. ‘I’ve had a talk with Daddy and now I have to rush off because Grandpa isn’t very well and I have to look after him. Mummy’s coming with me for a few days, OK? So you both need to be very good for Daddy. I mean—’ She faltered, obviously remembering that Nico wasn’t Maria’s daddy. She blew both girls a hurried kiss then headed for the door, Josie trotting alongside, obviously not understanding that she’d been dismissed, charging her grandma with messages about Grandpa feeling better and Mummy having a nice time.

Maria remained standing in the kitchen.