‘Then let’s convert a downstairs room to a bedroom for him. I should have thought of it before. Frank will help me and we’ll do it on Sunday—’

‘Your father won’t hear of it,’ Ann cut in. ‘I suggested it myself, and my advice to you is, don’t even mention it to him.’

‘Then he isn’t considering you, is he, Mum?’

‘But he always did before his stroke.’

They went on with their meal in silence.

Then Ann said quietly, ‘What we have to remember, Howard, is that what we’re seeing now isn’t him. I’d also like you to know that, though what Germany conjures up for Jews gives me the shivers, I’d rather not believe, like your father does, that they’re still a nation of Jew-haters. A fixation is what Uncle Nat called it.’

And it isn’t getting any better, thought Howard.

‘All the same,’ said his mother, ‘when I think of my grandson being there, and of what Henry Moritz told us about the neo-Nazis—’

‘I’ve heard there are less of them in Germany than elsewhere,’ Howard cut in.

‘But Germany is where it all began, and if your dad has to have a fixation I’m not surprised it’s the one it is. It would perhaps be easier for Ben to grow up there if he didn’t look so Jewish.’

Howard hid his own qualms with a joke. ‘Would you like him to have plastic surgery?’

‘Let the anti-Semites have surgery on their evil tongues!’ Ann flashed. ‘But it’s nice to hear you laugh for a change, Howard.’

‘And for me to see that you haven’t lost your spirit, Mum. Despite the tyrant upstairs,’ Howard added as they heard from above the tinkle of the handbell with which Harry summoned his wife.

Chapter Eight

Shirley’s elaborate arrangements for her daughter’s wedding were deftly foiled by Laura.

‘You didn’t have to elope, you had my permission!’ was her tart response to learning that the marriage had taken place minus her presence.

They were talking on the telephone and Laura tried to soften the blow. ‘But wouldn’t you say that flying to Paris to get married was romantic, Mum?’

‘What I would say is it’s in keeping with your harum-scarum way of life. And I didn’t see you get married, did I? I’m having to pinch myself to believe you’ve actually done it.’

‘I’ll show you my marriage lines.’

‘More to the point is when do I get to see the man who’s worked this miracle? A reference from Marianne is the opposite of reassuring to me! And what is all that noise I can hear going on? It sounds like bedlam—’