‘Listen, Liberty,’ says Michael. ‘You’re a smart girl. You know Cat was on the scene back when I knew Lorna, right?’

‘Um … well, yeah. You were on tour together, weren’t you?’

‘We were. And you also know that Lorna accused me of some awful things.’

‘Yes.’ I meet his eye. ‘So did Cat.’

‘Look, I know you’ll have questions.’ Michael’s dark eyes turn sad and pleading. ‘Cat’s been through hell and back, love. Please don’t ask her about the past. Not today. I’ll answer everything when the time is right, but this is Diane’s day too.’

We watch as a woman with messy blonde hair hops out of the helicopter. Cat looks so much smaller than I’d imagined her. In pictures, she’s full-on big hair, red lips and personality. In real life, she’s tiny.

‘Did she have her assistant flown in too this time?’ says Diane. ‘Or has she sacked the latest one like all the others?’

‘Give her a break,’ says Michael. ‘Sure, Cat gets through her assistants. But she’s a unique personality. Not everyone is going to fit. And she doesn’t need an assistant for a party.’

‘I think it’s criminal the way she disposes of staff at the drop of a hat,’ says Diane. ‘You’ve had the same driver and assistant for over twenty years, Michael. You’re good to them.’

‘Come on now, Diane. Cat’s good to her assistants too. She always gives them a big whack of settlement money.’

‘How kind of her,’ says Diane. ‘Mouth-shut money.’

We watch as Cat totters around the swimming pool, waving and laughing. She wears a black ballgown split at the front with bizarre ruffles at the neck, pearls and spike heels that are not getting on well with the grass.

‘Does Cat know about me?’ I ask.

‘No, love. We’ll keep you quiet today. No sense going there when Cat’s still so fragile.’ Michael puts his arms around mine and Diane’s shoulders. ‘Okay, girls. Come on, let’s move on from the bad stuff, okay?’

Cat is nearing the glass doors now, sticking a playful finger up at Michael, still laughing.

Michael waves back. ‘Listen, Liberty. When I tell you what happened the day you were born, everything changes. Right? Everything. A bomb goes off. I wouldn’t mind getting to know you before we light that fuse, okay?’ He goes to open the kitchen doors. ‘Ready to meet a rock and roll legend?’

‘More like a rock and roll mess,’ Diane mutters. Then she glances at me. ‘God, I hope these doors are soundproofed.’

Michael pulls open the bi-folding doors. ‘Cat Cannon,’ he shouts. ‘How was the chopper?’