For a long time Valentine thought they’d never get over losing her. She was their only child. They’d planned on two children, but when it didn’t happen they weren’t sad, because Helen was more than enough. It was like that saying, ‘You only get one life, but if you live it right, you only need one.’ She was such a lovely little girl, never any bother, always bright, always smiling. She was the light of their lives and, when she died, it was like the light went out.

You never get over losing a child – it’s not how it’s meant to be – but they were lucky. It tears some couples apart, but with Valentine and Gisele it brought them even closer. Losing Helen reminded them, more than ever, that life was short and they were both determined to make the best of it. It’s the reason why, when he retired, they decided to fulfil their dream and move to the Dales. They brought Helen’s ashes with them.

This was going to be their forever home. When they moved here they both knew they were never going to leave, so Valentine asked the vicar if they could lay Helen to rest in the garden of remembrance in the churchyard. That way they could all be buried in the same place, and that gave them both peace somehow. Knowing they’d all be together again one day. Moreover it was a lovely spot, by the far wall where you got shade from the oak tree and the air was filled with the scent of rose bushes. There were no headstones there, so instead they’d put her name on a bench.

He liked to go visit, to sit on Helen’s bench and talk to her. He often went after he’d been to see Gisele: to tell her how her mother was doing; about the birds; his battle with the neighbour’s bloody cat; something interesting he heard on the radio. There was no one at home to talk to any more. These past few years Helen was the only person he felt he could confide in.

But then he met Olivia and Harry, and all that changed.

Valentine stopped talking and looked at Olivia sitting opposite him across the table. She hadn’t said a word. Just listened while he spoke. He waited for her to say something.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said finally.

‘It’s all right, love. It’s a long time ago now. I’m the one that should be sorry. Not telling the truth.’

‘Don’t be sorry. You’re a kind man, and you did a kind thing. Helen was very lucky to have you as her dad.’

Valentine had been fine up to that point. Over the years he’d learned to detach himself from it somehow. Like he was telling someone else’s story. But now his eyes watered and he fought back tears.

‘Silly bugger,’ he sniffed sharply.

She reached for his hand across the table and rested hers upon it.

‘Silly bugger,’ she repeated and he smiled.