Howard gave her a poignant smile. ‘There was a time when I took the business as seriously as Dad did. But when Ben was taken from me – well, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone to get their priorities straight in the way I was made to. As for how I can bring myself to live in Germany, allow me to tell you that principles and repugnance get set aside when personal happiness is at stake. If you’d rather not visit me, Kate, I’ll come to Israel to see you—’

‘Don’t bother,’ she replied, rising to stand behind her mother’s chair, her hands on Ann’s shoulders as if forging an alliance with her that bespoke the future.

‘You seem to have forgotten that Aryeh’s grandparents were among the six million I mentioned. He wouldn’t have you in the house and nor would I. It was bad enough your marrying a German, but what you intend doing now puts you beyond the pale.’

The colour had drained from Ann’s face as she listened to the makings of a rift between her children. And the pleasure of living with Kate and her family will be side by side with her private distress, Marianne reflected. As Howard’s long overdue happiness would be marred by estrangement from the sister he adored.

Marianne exchanged a glance with Shirley, who had to be thinking, as she was, of their grandmother’s legendary words. Nor was it surprising that Sarah’s long experience of life’s vicissitudes had led her to call them what she had.

Part Three

1987

Chapter One

The family was represented at Howard’s wedding by Marianne, Laura, and Jake.

‘Not much of a show of loyalty, is it?’ said Laura as they journeyed by taxi from Tegel Airport.

It damn well isn’t, thought Marianne. ‘One just has to accept that for some of us principle won the day,’ she said, ‘and I have to admit it was necessary for me to steel myself to go with Howard to Munich five years ago.’

‘If it weren’t that they’re swotting for exams, Jake and I would have brought Janis and Jeremy along to swell the numbers,’ said Laura. ‘What I regret most, though, is that Martin isn’t here to be Howard’s best man.’

‘No more so than Martin does.’

‘But you don’t say no when you get an out of the blue summons to LA from the producer who sent one to Martin and Andy,’ said Jake. ‘Writing the lyrics and music for a Hollywood spectacular could put them where the West End show Laura and I saw didn’t.’

‘That wasn’t because of their contribution to it,’ Laura put in. ‘When the critics predicted the show’s early demise they said with one voice that it was miscast.’