‘You know Mum wanted to be here today,’ Fran says. ‘She screamed blue murder at me down the phone when I said I was going alone. So I screamed blue murder back at her and I told her that if she ever threw tea at me again I would throw some back.’

‘I don’t imagine that went down well.’

‘She went unusually quiet. It was very pleasing. I’ll have her apologising to me next.’

Jenna smiles then a wave of regret washes over her. ‘When I decided to keep Tama to myself I wasn’t just robbing Mum and Dad of a grandchild, I was robbing you too.’

‘Well,’ Fran says, crossing her arms over her chest. ‘I have two points to make about that; actually I have three. Firstly, do not feel guilty for the choices you made. We’re done with guilt, I’ve decided. It’s not helpful and frankly it serves no purpose other than to cause pain and insomnia. Secondly, we need a plan of action. If, or when, you go back to see Mum and Dad, I’ll be by your side. If either of them wage war, we wage it right back. A united front, so to speak; probably for the first time in our lives but it’s well overdue. Thirdly, when do I get to meet this little nephew of mine?’

Jenna puts the baby gro back on the radiator and smiles. ‘He’s in the other room with Tristian.’ She glances at her watch. ‘He’s not due to finish his nap for another twenty minutes but we can go and see him.’

‘No, no.’ Fran shakes her head. ‘Let him sleep. We have lots more catching up to do. Nearly forty years, by my calculations. Shall I make some more tea?’

Chapter 55

Now – six weeks later, April

FRAN

It’s a Sunday morning, the sun’s shining and Fran’s thrown open all the windows to let in some air. She’s sitting at the desk in her living room tapping at her keyboard. It’s been six weeks since she visited Jenna in Valletta and four since Jenna, Tristian and Tama flew over to be reunited with Geraldine and Henry. Fran met them at the airport and drove them to Buckinghamshire, Tristian and Tama in the back and Jenna in the front.