‘Is that how you see things with him? Being together for …’ his question fell away and he frowned, perhaps unsure how to go on.

Touched by his awkwardness, she said, ‘You mean forever, until the day I die?’

‘Lasting,’ he said, his face brightening as though with relief that he had hit upon a better way of expressing himself.

‘Lasting is the perfect way to describe how I feel about Ellis,’ she said, and meaning it.

‘Does he feel the same way about you?’

‘Yes. And I can’t tell you how liberating it feels.’ Seeing his face colour at her admission, and sensing that he might be terrified she was about to share the unthinkable with him, that she was once again enjoying a full and active sex life, she hastily added. ‘But if Martha asked you to speak to me in order to assess the state of my mind, to check that I’m still in full charge of my faculties, please do put her straight on that score.’

‘Nobody in their right mind would think that you were anything but fully in charge of your faculties, Naomi.’

‘Well, that’s something at least,’ she said, sliding the hot flatbreads onto a warmed platter. ‘If you genuinely do want to help, Tom, could you put that dish of hummus onto a tray, along with the little pot of olive oil and the one of rock salt, please?’

When he’d done that for her, and she’d checked on the paella on the hob, he said, ‘You know that we just want you to be happy, don’t you?’

‘Martha doesn’t give that impression. I think she’d much prefer for me to be miserable.’

He shook his head. ‘That’s not true at all. You know what she’s like. She doesn’t like change unless she’s the one driving it, and you and I both know she idolised Colin, so anyone trying to replace him is going to be met with opposition.’

‘It’s not about replacing Colin,’ Naomi said. ‘It really isn’t. It’s about me seizing the chance for a new life.’

‘Of course, but it’s the perception. I can’t speak for Willow, but for Martha I would say she’s upset at the thought that Ellis, or any man, might eclipse her father’s memory.’

Naomi sighed. ‘I’m very lucky to have you as a son-in-law, Tom. You’re so level-headed and sensitive to those around you.’

‘It works both ways, I’ve always counted myself lucky to have you as my mother-in-law.’

Since they were being so open and it was just the two of them, so no danger of upsetting Martha, Naomi risked asking if there was any other reason why Martha was particularly uptight at the moment. She knew that Tom would know straight away what she was really asking.

‘If you’re wondering if she’s pregnant, it’s still what you might call a work in progress.’

‘I see,’ Naomi said. ‘That can’t be easy for either of you.’

‘No,’ he murmured, picking up the tray to carry outside and bringing an end to the conversation.