“You’re thinking about him,” Jasmine stated, her eyes darkening with worry. “I can tell.”

Claudia shook herself quickly. “It’s OK, it’s gone,” she assured her, pushing the memory back into the shadows.

Jasmine was still concerned, so Claudia smiled. “Really it has,” she promised, “and you’ve completely transformed me from a dull old mumsie sewing bee into a . . .” She couldn’t think how to describe herself without sounding immodest.

“Into a sophisticated and alluring businesswoman who’s totally going to be the belle of the ball,” Jasmine finished for her.

As they laughed and hugged Marcy came into the room, and both Claudia’s and Jasmine’s eyes rounded with surprise and approval.

“Wow, Nana,” Jasmine murmured. “You look amazing too. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.”

“You haven’t,” Marcy admitted, and twirled to show off her new navy silk jersey jumpsuit with frivolous bell cuffs and slightly risqué V-neck. “And you, Claudia, look so lovely I could look at you all night, but I think we should be going or we’ll be late.”

“Excuse me,” Jasmine protested as they started for the door, “isn’t anyone going to say that I look amazing too?”

Laughing, Claudia said, “You look so lovely that I’d like a photo of you before we go.”

Obligingly, Jasmine struck a pose in the cluttered sitting room, one hand on her hip, the other reaching above her to offer the best view of her slinky, cold-shoulder sweater, ripped-knee leggings, and block-heel ankle boots.

Half an hour later they were driving over the cattle grid that marked the entrance to Ash Morley Farm, where the ramble of old buildings had been converted into dwellings. Leanne, Tom, and Abby lived in the converted barn, Wilkie, Leanne’s mother, was in the old farmhouse, and Klaudia, the pretty Polish lady who worked at the shop with Leanne, occupied the stables with her two young children. The place was a rural idyll, so characterful and welcoming that Claudia could only wonder now why she’d always been in such a hurry to drop Jasmine off and leave.

“Please excuse us for being late. You wouldn’t believe how long it’s taken my wife to get ready this evening. Or looking at her, maybe you would.” A typical put-down from Marcus, humorous, teasing, even affectionately delivered, but the cruelty was always there.

Bringing the car to a stop next to Andee’s Mercedes, Claudia took a brief moment to steel herself against any more unwelcome voices, and unfastened her seat belt.

As they approached the barn Abby came bursting out to greet them, looking almost Goth-like in the moonlight with her recently dyed black hair and kohl-rimmed eyes. “Everyone’s here already,” she told them, “but don’t worry, Grandma can’t find her glasses and nothing can happen until she has them.”