‘Troy, your mum was someone special – everyone who knew her says so. I envy you that so much. Don’t you think that you get to choose your outlook? Your attitude? From what I’ve learned of your mum, she chose happiness and caring about others. She always looked outwards. Even when she was at her lowest, she chose to care about others before herself. That’s why she’ll always be remembered, and my mum won’t – eventually not even by me.’

‘Libby—’

‘No, it’s all right, Dad,’ I interrupted. ‘That chapter of my life is finished. I’m writing a new one now and I’m OK with that.’

‘Enough serious talk,’ said Nana Meggie.

We all smiled in agreement. Dad leaned towards Callie to give her yet another kiss, neither of them the least bit embarrassed. There was absolutely no shame in their game. Callie drew away slightly, her gaze strangely intent.

She sighed. ‘Libby’s right. Mum did choose to look outwards. It’s not a bad way to live.’

‘I’m enjoying what I’m looking at right now,’ Dad said with a wink.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Troy muttered from beside me. For once I agreed. Mushy much?

Raising her hands, Callie traced the contours of Dad’s face with her fingertips – along his eyebrows, over his closed eyelids, down his nose, across his slightly smiling mouth. Callie explored his face like she was memorizing every line, every curve. It was as though she was seeing his face for the very first time. I don’t know about Troy, but I felt like a pervy voyeur. Dad opened his eyes, his smile widening.

‘I love you, Callie Rose,’ he said.

‘I know.’

‘Can you two please give it a rest?’ Troy begged. ‘You’re putting me off my breakfast.’

‘Leave them alone, Troy,’ Nana Meggie rebuked with a grin. ‘Wait till you fall in love!’

‘Never gonna happen,’ said Troy.

Dad and Callie both leaned forward on a simultaneous impulse, now kissing like they had only just discovered how to do it.

‘My eyes! My eyes!’ Troy complained

Nana Meggie winked at me. Inside I felt a rush of something I’d so rarely felt before. It was like bubbles rising in a shaken fizzy drink. From the first time I met her, Nana Meggie had made me feel like one of the family, like I belonged right where I was. She was so down to earth and funny and just plain lovely. No wonder Troy doted on her. She had lost so much but she still viewed the world with hope in her heart.

I looked round the table. For Shaka’s sake, Dad and Callie were still locking lips!

Troy inevitably gagged.