‘But this is his child,’ Mum said. She looked as if she was about to cry. ‘How can he let her go like that?’

‘This is exactly why he didn’t tell you. He was afraid you wouldn’t understand. He tells me you’re a good mother. The best he can imagine. It’s bound to be difficult for you to understand how vengeful and selfish someone like Paula can be.’ Ingrid sighed. ‘If there’s anything that all my years on this planet have taught me, it’s that sometimes you have to accept that things can’t be fixed. Mark has a child he can’t be a father to. I have a grandchild I can’t be a grandmother to. But it will be different with your children.’

‘I’m sure it’s convenient to cut your losses,’ I muttered.

‘Ava! That is a dreadful thing to say. You’d better apologise,’ Mum told me.

‘No need,’ Ingrid said smoothly. ‘I realise it’s a shock. You have to understand that Mark has done his very best to ensure this child is financially provided for. He gave Paula the house, just like that. And he pays child support. He gets absolutely nothing in return. By all accounts, Paula does her best by the child – you see, I do like to stay informed, and I have my methods. But she was not a good wife. And she was a very possessive and manipulative daughter-in-law. She did her best to cut me out of Mark’s life. Which I’m sure you would never do.’

‘Of course not,’ Mum said faintly.

‘I must say I’m very glad to have had this opportunity to clear the air. I was beginning to wonder when it was going to be possible. In practice all of this is neither here nor there. They’re in Kettlebridge, a good ten miles away, and there’s really no reason why your paths should ever cross. But it’s as well to be aware, isn’t it? I thought it would be much better for you to know, to help you to avoid any awkwardness.’

‘This little girl,’ Mum said. ‘What’s she called?’

‘Daisy,’ Ingrid said, wrinkling her nose slightly. ‘Paula’s choice, naturally. They have both kept Mark’s surname, which was another reason why I felt you should know. Walsh is not that common a name. And Paula can be rather attention-seeking. I saw a picture of them in the local newspaper just the other day, at some fundraising event at school. Why she would want to put a child like that in the spotlight I have no idea, but there we are. It’s a perverse kind of vanity, maybe. She must want people to feel sympathetic towards her. And maybe they do, if they don’t know the whole story.’

I got to my feet. ‘I’m going to check on Ellie,’ I said. ‘She’s been gone forever.’

Neither of them said anything as I went out. Mum looked faintly guilty, as if it had just occurred to her that she ought to have checked on Ellie herself. I could see life as a mother of three was going to be a challenge for her.