With a helpless sort of grimace Claudia said, “At first, she wasn’t any happier about it than I am, but she’s her grandmother’s granddaughter in so many ways, and now this turns out to be another of them. Or, to quote you, she knows where the real responsibility lies so what’s to be gained from holding on to a grudge against Archie? If only life were so simple—I know, you’re going to tell me it can be if I let it.” She paused with a sigh, not sure what she wanted to say next, only knowing that Marcus was hovering like an evil specter at the edges of her mind, trying to force himself center stage, and she desperately wanted rid of him. In the end the words seemed to come of their own accord. “Jasmine recently found out that Archie has an ‘amazing talent’ for remembering lyrics and he’s a ‘totally awesome singer.’ So, I think we can say that my daughter, along with her grandmother, has discovered a more highly developed sense of forgiveness than her mother is managing.” She broke off at the sound of someone arriving outside and knew instantly who it was because no one else ever hooted their car horn like that.

“Now here’s someone,” she said dryly, “who I’m definitely growing more fond of.”

Claudia went to the front door and opened it in time to see Maria tumbling out of the dilapidated VW campervan that someone on the estate had abandoned outside her house before she and Archie had moved out. Being Maria, she’d instantly claimed it, having already handed the old Astra over to Archie, and the local car mechanic had made it as roadworthy as he could, free of charge in return for the good publicity he’d got out of the trial. Since then, Maria and Claudia had attempted to turn the rust patches into arty daisies or smiley faces, while Archie had attached an old-fashioned air horn to the steering wheel. Maria loved it and never failed to use it to announce her arrival at someone’s house, a road junction, or just because it delighted her so much to hoot it.

“’Ave come to clea’,” she called out to Claudia, hauling her bag across the driver’s seat and letting it drop to the ground while she shouldered the van door closed. “An’ I braw sand’ches from garage in case ah I get ’ungry. You can ’ave one if you like. Is that Dan’s car?”

“Yes, he’s here. So is Archie.”

“Saw the Astra. Scuze ma ’air,” she grimaced, patting her head as she came into the house, “got pain’ in it.”