‘Bloody hell. You never can tell about people,’ she had said, adding a shocked emoji.

Thankfully she didn’t probe me today, when I simply beamed and said, honestly: ‘Yes, we are great.’ I even resisted asking her if Lucy was coming, because I didn’t want to appear insecure.

‘Joni is absolutely gorgeous,’ Susie smiled.

‘Gorgeous and full of attitude,’ I replied.

‘Isn’t every sixteen-month old?’ she looked across at Charlie who was sat down using a stick to dig a hole next to the tree, covering his smart little chinos in mud. ‘Oh Charlie, really?’ she shouted over. ‘Is it too much to stay smart for just one day?’

‘Don’t worry, Joni will be joining him shortly,’ I chuckled. ‘Anyway, I brought you this, for Charlie’s bedroom.’ I handed her a brown A5 hard-backed envelope.

‘Ooh, is it what I hope it is?’ she asked, her eyes shining excitedly. ‘Is it an Aisha original?’ She’d always had such a warm and enthusiastic personality.

Carefully she teased the envelope open and pulled out the artwork inside. It was a pencil sketch of her holding a baby Charlie. I’d found the photo on my phone, I had taken it on one of our trips to the French café on the edge of the common, not far from where we were standing today. I had caught such a sweet moment as Susie, although so tired, sat gazing at her tiny boy with such utter love and pride, as he stared back up at her, his tiny hand in the air.

‘Oh it’s beautiful!’ she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me, ‘I love it. You’re so clever, we’ll treasure this forever.’

‘I’m so pleased! The frame will be arriving in a few days, in the post. I didn’t quite get my act…’ My voice trailed off and my heart twisted as I recognized the couple striding towards us.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Lucy

When the Naming Day came around, considering everything that had happened, I felt oddly calm. I was ready to draw a line under the past; to achieve closure. Oscar reached for my hand and I took it as we walked purposefully towards the tree on the common.

It felt funny being back on our old turf and, although Kingston wasn’t so far away, this was the first time we’d come back to Clapham since the move. It was all so familiar, yet distant at the same time.

As we got closer, I slowed my pace. I felt my heart rate quicken and palms moisten. I was reminded of how I’d spotted Jason and Aisha near this very spot on the common on that terrible day. I felt nervous. We were running late, and it meant that everyone was already gathered. I felt like we were ‘making an entrance’. I had let Susie know that we were hoping to drop by, but wouldn’t stay long, we would just make a flying visit – I didn’t want to commit to staying for the whole day in case we decided against it or the atmosphere was awkward. There was still time to change our mind.