‘Sorry, dotes. It’s only for grown-ups. I’m going to be working there. Writing some of my stories. Besides, I have a really important job for you to do when I’m away.’

‘What is it?’ Clara, who loved to feel very important indeed, asked eagerly.

‘Well, I need someone to sleep in this bed for me to keep it warm and to look after Mammy since Daddy is still away.’

‘Can Buttercup sleep here too?’ she asked, as her eyes darted to her well-loved teddy resting on one of the pillows.

‘Of course she can! But only if she promises not to steal all the covers, or snore too loudly.’

‘Teddy bears don’t snore, you silly billy!’ Clara scolded.

‘Do little girls called Clara snore and steal the covers?’ Jo asked, one eyebrow raised.

‘Nope,’ Clara said, sliding herself off the bed and grabbing her teddy. ‘Only big sisters called Jojo. Who snore so loud!’ And there it was, Clara’s giggle.

‘I do not!’ Jo protested.

‘You do! Louder than Daddy Pig!’ By now, Clara was almost hysterical with laughter at her teasing and Jo wanted to scoop her up and hold her very tight.

‘Clara Campbell, I love you just how Big Nutbrown Hare loves Little Nutbrown Hare. All the way to the moon…’

‘And back,’ Clara answered, solemnly.

‘You’ll be a good girl for Mammy, won’t you? I’ll ask her to take you for an extra big ice cream since I won’t be here.’

‘Yes!’ Clara punched her fist in the air and grinned. With that, she was gone, a whirlwind in a primary school uniform and a mass of red curls. Buttercup swinging under her arm.

That, Jo thought, went a lot better than it could have. Clara was one of two stumbling blocks to her excitement about her trip. Lorcan was the other. They hadn’t exchanged a call or a text or even liked each other’s social media posts since the reading. He had left before the event had ended, which had given Jo no chance to try and clear the air with him. She had been fired up and ready to challenge him as to why he had been so judgemental, but he clearly didn’t want to be challenged. Whereas they had progressed to a steady stream of messages over the previous few days, the silence was deafening. Jo knew she owed him nothing. She knew she shouldn’t give him space in her head, but yet there he was.