‘If you’re sure, Dad. I can see it’s not been easy for you. Are you okay? You look a bit under the weather.’

‘No, no, it’s fine. It had been coming a while. What’s new with you?’

It was such a novelty to have him ask me questions that I couldn’t help but go with it. And at least he wouldn’t grill me about whether I’d found a man to have kids with. I had friends who couldn’t set foot in their parents’ houses without having to provide a dissertation (with references) justifying their failure to reproduce. Mum had given up on me and Dad had never been bothered.

‘I’m half looking to buy a house,’ I said. ‘I’ve got enough for a deposit with my savings and the money from Gran.’

‘How exciting.’ He didn’t look very excited. ‘Have you found anything?’

‘There are a few I want to look at. I’ve got no time or ability for DIY, so I should get a newer one, but they’re so bland and soul-less, and half of them are built on actual swamps.’

‘I’m surprised you want to tie yourself down. You know what you’re like.’

I looked up. What a strange thing to say. ‘I like it here. And it’s near to Mum.’

‘I suppose it is. If she stays here and doesn’t do anything ridiculous.’

‘Besides, I like my job.’ Craig’s bulbous face slid into my mind. ‘Mainly, anyway.’

How much did he even know about my job? He’d never taken much interest. I’d hoped he’d be proud when I became a DI but there’d been no evidence of it. And then there was the shameful matter of having time off with stress when I was still in Manchester. Not the kind of thing a member of the Dalton family should indulge in.

‘What have you got planned today?’ I asked.

He examined his fingers. ‘Do you think your mother would see me? I’m worried about her.’

‘Oh, Dad, I don’t know. She was pretty upset that you didn’t call back when Gran was dying.’

He didn’t bother to repeat that he hadn’t got the messages.

‘Shall we talk about it later?’ I said.

‘But we can’t let her do this crazy trip.’

‘I think she has to do what she wants. It’s nothing to do with us any more.’

‘Come on, Meg. She’s in her late sixties. It’s ridiculous.’

I didn’t want to admit I’d had similar thoughts. My friends were worrying about their parents not getting out enough, and mine was planning a trip to El Salvador. But Dad had no right to intervene.

‘It’s dangerous, you know.’ Dad shook his head. ‘She never used to be like this.’