Matt stood up and walked purposefully towards the altar. He reached Ben in a couple of strides and put one arm around his heaving shoulders, while taking his speech from him with the other. ‘Would you like me to continue for you?’ he asked gently.

Ben nodded, so Matt began to read the words on the page in a calm, clear voice, which somehow made them sound all the more poignant. As he finished, he looked at Ben, who gave him a grateful smile and a nod. ‘Thank you,’ Ben mouthed, as the two of them made their way back to the pews.

‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ Ben whispered, as he sat back down. ‘I just couldn’t do it.’

Jo took his hand, her heart breaking for him. ‘I know, darling, we all understand.’

As they filed out of the church at the end, Jo reached out to hug Matt. ‘Thank you so much for helping Ben, Matt. It means the world to us.’

Matt hugged her back. ‘We’ll always be here for him, Jo. And for you and Emma, too. Don’t ever forget that.’

Jo nodded, aware that there was more meaning in his words than she was hearing but she was quickly swept away to greet the procession of mourners who were now leaving the church and she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Chapter Fifteen

The sun was a ball of orange fire, hanging low over the Suffolk fields, the few clouds creating purple shadows on the landscape, like bruises. Ben drove in silence, exhausted by the stress of the day. Beside him, Bella also sat in silence, while Elodie slept soundly in her car-seat in the back.

He hadn’t wanted to leave Jo. She looked so small and vulnerable standing at the door to the home that she had shared with his dad for more than two decades. He had hesitated as he started the car and looked at Bella. ‘Should we stay? I feel bad leaving her.’

Bella’s expression hardened. ‘No. She’ll be fine. We need to get Elodie home.’

So Ben had driven away, feeling like the lousiest son in the world abandoning his mum. Bella had spent the entire day in a surly, dark mood, standing apart from everyone and giving cursory, barely polite answers to anyone who approached. Ben wanted to talk to her about it but he knew it would result in a row and he felt too drained and upset to get into one right now.

Bella sighed loudly and he could feel her eyes boring into him, demanding a reaction.

‘OK,’ he said, glancing at her wearily, knowing that he had no choice but to deal with it now, regardless of the emotions coursing through his brain. ‘What’s the matter?’

Bella sighed again, this time in a more exaggerated fashion. ‘I can’t believe you didn’t notice the way your mum treated me today. She made me feel like a piece of dirt! And she barely even looked at Elodie …’