Her throat constricted at the realization that that visit was the final time Peter had seen her. Elodie would never see him again; would never know him as she grew up, except through photos and stories. The physical pain was almost too much to bear. ‘But that’s the circle of life, isn’t it?’ she murmured to herself. ‘As one life ends, another is just beginning.’

Emma came to stand beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. She followed Jo’s gaze and they both smiled as Bella scooped Elodie out of Ben’s arms and lifted her above her head, blowing raspberries on her belly and eliciting squeals of delight from her.

Emma steered Jo out of the bedroom and down the stairs. She opened the front door and her spirits were lifted again by the sight of Ben, looking tall and handsome in his slim black suit. He pulled Jo into a huge bear hug and held her in his embrace for several seconds. As the tears threatened, Jo blinked hard and tried to smile at Bella. ‘Hello, Bella.’

Bella looked slightly uncomfortable and distracted herself by rocking Elodie gently from side to side. ‘Hello, Jo. I’m sorry about Peter.’ Her words sounded clipped and forced.

‘Thank you.’ Jo tried to give a weak smile but found she couldn’t speak and turned away abruptly, not wanting Elodie to see her cry.

They all made their way down the wide flag-stoned hallway into the kitchen, where they sat on stools around the large, granite-topped island. Emma bustled about briskly, making tea and coffee and running through the order of the funeral. Jo knew that for Emma, in particular, being busy was the only way she could cope, whereas Jo found it almost impossible to concentrate, her brain too muddled and full to take it in. She decided she would just let Ben and Emma take the lead and try to get through the day as best she could.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they heard the cars arriving. With a struggle, Jo got to her feet, her whole body shaking with fear and adrenaline. Unsure whether she would actually be able to make it to the door, she instinctively reached for Ben’s arm.

Ben looked down at her in concern. ‘Are you OK, Mum?’

Jo took a deep breath. No, she wasn’t OK, she wanted to scream. She would never be OK again but there was absolutely nothing anyone could do about it. ‘Yes,’ she lied. ‘My legs are just a bit shaky, that’s all.’

Ben nodded sympathetically and tightened his grip on her. Behind them, Elodie started to cry. Ben turned back towards Bella, who was following them down the hallway with the baby in her arms. ‘Shhhh, don’t cry, sweetie,’ he soothed.

‘She’s a baby, Ben,’ Bella snapped. ‘That’s what babies do!’

Ben frowned slightly but didn’t reply. Instead, he led Jo out to the driveway where the hearse and the family car were waiting. The two of them pulled up sharply at the sight of the coffin and Ben let out a guttural moan, before putting his hand over his mouth. Jo knew she should offer him some words of comfort but she was too numb. Too exhausted by grief. It all felt so surreal, as if she was watching someone else going through the worst day of their life.