‘Yeah. Fingers crossed,’ I say, stirring another cup of tea.

The service goes off without a hitch, other than Dad making a remark to Mum about how they’re now the oldest generation and will probably be the next to die. She wasn’t too keen on that idea, being four years older than him.

It’s refreshing to see so many people talking fondly of Nan and celebrating all the good she did with her life, instead of being upset that she’s gone. That gives all of us a lot of comfort, although it doesn’t make things any easier.

At the wake, I’m left talking to a couple of distant relatives — Stan and Vera, apparently, although I haven’t the foggiest who they are — while Tom circles the room with Mum, meeting anyone he didn’t get to speak to before the service. Everyone seems enraptured by him. It’s plain to see why his boss likes to make sure he’s out there on the ground, speaking with the clients and spurring employees on. I can easily see how that might be a huge benefit in a business situation. He must be worth his weight in gold.

Once they’re done, Tom joins me and sits at the table with the Stan and Vera.

‘You okay?’ he asks me, rubbing my forearm.

‘I think so, yeah,’ I say. ‘You?’

Tom purses his lips and nods. I can see tears forming at the edges of his eyelids.

‘You sure?’ I ask.

‘I’ll be okay,’ he replies, sniffing and wiping his eyes. ‘It’s just really nice to hear so many people saying such nice things about her. She was clearly an amazing woman. I just wish I’d met her and spent time with her.’

I smile. ‘She was very popular.’

‘So it seems. I can see how much she meant to everyone. I can’t even begin to imagine how you must all feel. Some of the stories family and friends have told me… What a woman.’

Tom forces a smile, kisses me on the forehead, and heads to the bar.

‘He seems so lovely,’ Vera says. ‘You’re very lucky to have him.’

‘A proper old-fashioned gent,’ Stan chimes in. ‘Not many like him around anymore. You want to hang onto that one.’

As I gaze across the room at Tom, watching him work his charms on the bar staff, I think I know exactly what they mean.

‘Grace,’ a voice says from behind me. I turn around. It’s Cath.

27

‘You made it in the end,’ I say, as Cath sits down next to me.

‘Of course. I was at the service, too, but at the back. I had to rush off for a doctor’s appointment. I thought I’d best pop back for some of the wake, too. Say hi to everyone.’

I smile at her, but something seems off. She’s looking at me as if I’ve just fallen out of the sky.

‘Is something wrong?’ I ask.

‘I was going to ask you the same thing.’