When she arrived at their house on Ullet Road, all thoughts of her father dissipated as she hugged her grandparents for the first time in a long while. It was lovely to see them both looking so well. Naturally they were inquisitive about her time with Ted, but Olivia kept most of the conversation to herself, simply telling them what Ted had already told them, adding that the two of them had made their peace and gone their separate ways. She felt awful lying to them, but knew if she spoke the truth her grandparents would insist she go to her father immediately and ask where her baby was buried.

However, the next morning as they sat down for breakfast, her grandmother raised the subject of Wednesday’s visit, and was dismayed when Olivia told her she had changed her mind.

‘Your mother would be ever so upset to think you and your father were no longer on speaking terms, and you did say you’d go and see him whilst you were home,’ said Nana reasonably.

‘Only because she didn’t know the truth,’ said Olivia firmly. ‘No one knows what that man’s really like. If they did, they wouldn’t ask me to go and see him.’

‘No one, meaning me?’ Nana enquired. ‘Because if that’s what you think, you couldn’t be more wrong. Me and your grandfather knew your father before he met our Catherine. We’ve seen how callous he can be, but he was different with our Catherine – you too, for that matter.’

Olivia stared at her grandmother in disbelief. ‘Even if that was the case, it was only until his father died – that’s when he showed his true colours.’

Nana wagged a reproving finger. ‘I know he did wrong by you and Ted, but he thought he was doing the right thing, and whilst I know you believe him to be heartless, his heart was in the right place, even if misguided.’

Olivia heaved a sigh. ‘Believe me, Nana, he might have put on a good show for the outside world, you and Pops included, but I know what it was like living with him. I know the real William Campbell, and if you thought him cruel and callous before, you haven’t a clue how vile that man can be.’

Her grandmother’s eyebrows shot towards her hairline. ‘Liv! What on earth would make you say such a thing? I thought you two had started to mend bridges. What’s happened to make you change your mind, and why are you so angry?’

Olivia stared at the jar of Robertson’s jam. How could she tell her grandmother why she hated him so much without revealing the truth? She cast the older woman a fleeting glance. ‘Maybe I’ll visit him next time I’m home.’

Her grandmother shook her head in a chiding fashion. ‘He’s not getting any younger, and with this war, none of us can be sure of a tomorrow.’