Pip thought about her own mother, how she tried so hard to do and say the right thing, always treading on eggshells around her, and her stomach tightened. She knew she’d been horribly ungrateful when she was younger. It was little wonder her parents had been upset by her airs and graces. But she’d try harder now, she decided, show her mother she really did appreciate what she had done, and was continuing to do for her.

‘When Scarlet was tiny,’ Evelyn said, ‘Ted was about the only visitor I ever had. Peter came, of course, when she was first born, although babies really weren’t his thing until he had one of his own. But Ted came whenever he could get time off and borrow a vehicle of some sort. He was great with her, used to take her for long walks in her pram so I could get some sleep. Joan would never help with her, because I’d made my own bed and all that. Sometimes Ted would come, and I’d sleep for the whole time he was here. I used to wonder what kind of conversations he and Joan might have had when I wasn’t there, but actually, I think they just avoided one another.

‘And then his mum fell ill and it got harder and harder for him to get away. If he rang when I was out with Scarlet, then Joan wouldn’t pass the message on, so gradually we just drifted apart. He came to Scarlet’s funeral, of course, but we didn’t see much of each other after that. I suppose I just retreated, and he must have given up trying to help. Poor dear Ted. He didn’t deserve the treatment he got.’

‘He sounds lovely,’ said Pip. ‘I could do with a Ted in my life.’

As she said this, she realised that she had one – Jez. He’d been there for her and she had pushed him away. Pip wasn’t sure if the heat in her face was the effect of the wind or her shame. She would make amends, though, with her parents and Jez, or at least she would try. She hoped she hadn’t burned her bridges.

They reached Evelyn’s house, dingy and unloved next to its smarter neighbours.

Evelyn stopped and looked up at it, shaking her head sadly. ‘I have really let things slide, haven’t I?’ she said, but Pip got the impression she was talking to herself more than to her. ‘But this is enough. Something needs to change here, Evelyn Mountcastle. You need to take yourself in hand.’

Pip held her tongue, but she was telling herself the same thing.