Lola comes back into the room and she’s holding a painted jam jar. The glass is painted with rainbow colours and there’s a string handle tied around the top. I recognise it immediately.

‘Oh, Lola, is that a memory jar? Did you make one like in the book?’

She nods.

‘But that isn’t your jar, is it?’ says Kate.

‘Mine’s over there.’ She points to the bookshelf where there are two jars painted in bright colours and through the paint I can see little pieces of paper folded up inside.

‘We had so many memories, we had to make two jars, didn’t we, Lola?’ Kate gives her an encouraging smile and she nods back. ‘We try to talk about Ruth, Lola’s mum, every day, don’t we? And when we talk of a different memory, we make sure that we add it to the jar.’

I blink back a tear.

‘That’s so lovely.’ I just about manage to keep my voice from breaking.

‘So what’s the third jar for? Is that for more memories?’ asks Claudia, pointing at the jar.

‘It’s for Edie.’ She doesn’t look at me as she holds it out. I take it gently and she instantly goes and hides behind Kate’s legs.

‘For me?’ I’m lost for words.

She nods, not quite meeting my eyes.

‘Lola told me about your mum, Edie, and she said that you don’t have a memory jar and, well, we thought that you might want one of your own.’

Claudia whimpers and I don’t dare look at her as I’m trying hard not to cry. My heart feels fit to explode.

I bend down so that I’m on the same level as Lola, holding up the jar and examining it from different angles.

‘This is so beautiful. Did you paint it yourself?’

She nods and looks pleased.

‘How did you know my mum loved rainbows? It’s so amazing. I can’t thank you enough. I’m going to go home and fill it up straight away.’

‘Don’t forget to ask other people for their memories too,’ she says, ‘like Rusty.’

I’m so taken aback by the full sentence she’s just said that I can’t answer her immediately. I let it sink in and I smile.

‘That’s a fantastic idea. I can ask my dad and perhaps some of her friends. Thank you, I think this is the best present I’ve ever received.’ I stand back up and Kate pats me on the arm, my eyes glossy with tears.

‘I hope it’s as useful for you as it has been to us.’

I nod and Claudia steps in and takes over discussing next week because I’m totally choked up with emotion.

I get into the car and I sit there in a stunned silence, staring at the jar.