‘My goodness. Are all those messages about Nana Joy? I suppose you’d better read them.’

I pushed back the duvet and rubbed the sleep from my face. ‘Today is also the deadline for the job, and I have a contract to scrutinise and a load of forms to complete. I’ll try to make it to the pantomime, but I won’t have time to walk there or have the pub lunch.’ It was a good five miles to the nearby village where they put on the same outdated performance of Sleeping Beauty every year.

Mum hovered for a few seconds, conflicting thoughts chasing across her face. ‘Okay.’

‘Okay?’ Now that did wake me up.

‘I appreciate that this job application is important to you and it requires some focused time and attention.’ Mum spoke slowly and carefully. ‘And we must shield Nana Joy from all those people. Please handle that however you think best. We will miss you today, but we understand.’

‘Right. Okay.’ I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Had my mother actually listened to me for once? ‘Well, I hope you all have an amazing time. I’ll miss being there.’

Mum snorted. ‘You could probably recite the script by heart from here.’

‘Yes, that’s not the point though, is it? I’ll miss being with you, too.’

Seeing Mum’s eyebrows shoot up her forehead was like a dagger of guilt between my ribs.

‘If I get focused, I can probably be finished by mid-afternoon. I’ll go and see Nana Joy if I can get a taxi, then you won’t have to worry about rushing back.’

‘No need for that. By the time Henry accepted our invitation to stay with us the show had sold out, so he can drive you.’

‘Okay, that’s perfect, then.’ It was unsettling how perfect the prospect of another car ride with Henry felt.

It was only after Mum had clomped back downstairs that I realised Henry could have my pantomime ticket.

I decided not to mention it.

I threw on some recycled fleecy leggings that a local sustainable clothing company had sent me, and the giant cardigan that I’d stolen from Dad several years ago, and hurried downstairs the second I heard the front door close.

‘Isn’t this lovely?’ I asked Dumble and Dash, their claws tapping on the tiles as they followed me into the kitchen. ‘Breakfast in peace. We aren’t lounging about, though,’ I added, flicking on the kettle. ‘This is a working breakfast. There’s a lot to do.’

I’d brought one of Nana Joy’s boxes down with me. I had some sleuthing to do.