‘Our wedding anniversary,’ says Diane, skidding the car to a halt beside a purple Jaguar F-Type and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 convertible. ‘Michael and I have been together twenty years.’ She parks at an angle right by the moat bridge, two wheels on grass, as two more people wearing black band T-shirts and jeans scurry past with scaffold poles. The band T-shirts, I realize, I have Michael Reyji Ray’s face on the front.

‘You see that team of people there?’ Diane continues. ‘They’ve come to set up a stage in the woods. Michael will be performing later. You know what he’ll sing? “Fever Few”.’

‘Maybe I should go—’

‘No, stay,’ says Diane. ‘You must have come a long way. Michael will be so happy to see you. Over the moon. He’s been waiting sixteen years.’

‘But … this is your wedding anniversary,’ I say.

Diane raises a neat little eyebrow. ‘Yes. It is.’

‘Well … I mean, you’ve been married twenty years.’

‘And?’

‘And I’m sixteen. So Michael and my mother …’

‘Oh, you’ve figured it out, have you? Yes, your mother threw herself at my husband when we were not long married.’

‘If I’d known it was your anniversary today, I would never have—’

‘It’s okay, love. Look, Lorna’s little scheme failed, didn’t it? I kept my man. Michael and I are still together all these years later. Until death do us part.’

‘But seriously, I shouldn’t have come today. It’s the wrong time.’

Diane looks tired. ‘It’s not your fault. What happens on tour stays on tour. Isn’t that what they say? Michael is the life I signed up for. Your mother wasn’t the only one.’

‘But the only one he had a child with.’

Diane gives a harsh laugh. ‘As far as we know. Look, it was a long time ago and we survived it. Lorna put us through hell. She tried her best to ruin us. But we came out the other side stronger than ever.’

‘My mother is a good person,’ I say. ‘I don’t think she would have intended to have a relationship with a married man or try to … you know … ruin anyone.’

‘Relationship?’ Diane shakes her head. ‘There was no relationship. Lorna was just a groupie and a fantasist and … sorry. I shouldn’t be saying any of this to you. Look, none of this is your fault. You’ve only heard your mother’s side of things.’

‘Not really,’ I say. ‘My mother’s never told me anything. Except what a monster my father is.’

‘Yes, Lorna would say that. But what do you think? You can’t think he’s all that bad if you’ve come to see him all on your own.’