Phoebe smiled and for the first time Audrey saw a trace of Zoe in her: the verve, the energy and the sheer unassailable chutzpah.

“Thank you, Gran. Really. You’ve no idea how much that means. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

There was a moment’s hesitation—discomfort at a truth neither wanted to acknowledge—before Audrey put her arms around Phoebe’s shoulders, hoping that her granddaughter would feel able to confide whatever was on her mind while she was still in a position to help her. “Now, you’re all set for later, aren’t you? You and Mia have got the timings agreed?”

The thought of what the three of them had planned caused fresh nausea to churn in Audrey’s stomach.

“Yes, it’s all fine. Don’t worry. We’re doing the right thing. You know we are.”

Audrey nodded even as her head swam with uncertainty. She hadn’t told Mia and Phoebe everything, just enough to elicit their help. Now, as she stood backstage listening to singers warm up their voices, stage managers issue instructions, and PA announcements from inside the auditorium, she couldn’t tell whether her agitation related to singing in the concert or to what she had planned for afterward.

Chapter 36

Lily

Sitting in the vast empty auditorium of the Royal Albert Hall, Lily berated herself for having arrived so early.

She glanced at her watch: forty minutes to go. Most sensible people wouldn’t take their seats for another half an hour. An usher at one of the entrances caught her eye and smiled, and Lily forced herself to reciprocate before looking down at her phone and jabbing a finger at its screen.

She contemplated going to the bar, buying herself a glass of white wine, pretending she was the kind of person for whom that would be easy. But she knew she wouldn’t. She could comfortably stand on a podium in front of hundreds of people and deliver speeches but the prospect of sitting alone in a bar filled her with dread.

Her phone rang—loud and shrill—and she scrabbled to answer it. “Daniel, hi—I was just thinking about you.”

Lily slipped out of her seat and scurried out of the auditorium, into the corridor, where groups of people stood together, sharing bags of crisps and stories of their days.

“Hey, Lil. How are you? Everything OK?”

“Yes, fine. I’m already here, miles too early, of course.” Lily laughed but it rang hollow in her ears.

“Where?”

“The Albert Hall. For Phoebe and Mum’s concert. You hadn’t forgotten, had you?”

There was a momentary pause. Next to Lily, a man cupped his hands around a woman’s face and kissed her gently on the lips. Lily turned away and pressed her palm against her free ear to hear Daniel better.

“I thought that was next Saturday. Shit, sorry, I’m all over the place—it’s been one of those weeks. Wish Phoebe luck from me, won’t you? And your mum, of course.”

“They’re backstage already. Why don’t you call Phoebe, or message her?”