‘Good, I hope?’ I ask, although I can see from her face, soft and loving, that despite all the dramas I haven’t disappointed her. Or at least, not too much.

‘Not good, Sky.’ She holds my hand up and gives it a soft little peck like a gentleman in a black-and-white film. ‘Wonderful.’

I feel my lip quiver a little as the words sink in. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear them, and I know I feel the same.

‘To have you in my life now, to know that I have a granddaughter who I can treasure, I honestly never thought it would happen. But here you are. Beautiful inside and out.’

Now my eyes are filling up.

‘I’m glad too,’ I say. I have grandparents. What an unexpected gift … But it’s not so simple. Because my relationship with my father is on the edge, and doesn’t she come as a package deal with him? Can I have one without the other?

‘Now, first things first. When can we see each other again? If I send you tickets in the summer, will you come visit Mike and me? He hasn’t stopped mentioning it. “Tell Sky we have a spare room.”’ She attempts to imitate his voice. ‘“Tell Sky it’s waiting for her. I’ll show her my office.” Yada yada yada. He doesn’t show it much, but he’s as smitten with you as I am.’

‘Really?’ That makes me feel even better. Knowing they both love me and want me in their lives.

She keeps my hand in one of hers and reaches for a soft velvet pouch that’s sitting on the coffee table. ‘And secondly, this has been in my family for generations. My great-great-grandmother, believe it or not, was given it for her golden anniversary. It’s been passed down, mother to child, since then.’

She releases my hand to open the pouch, and I feel my heart racing a little as she hands it to me.

An emerald stone is surrounded by small white diamonds, with a clasp at the back. A brooch. ‘It’s so beautiful,’ I say.

‘I wanted to take time to get to know you before I made my decision. But now I know, there’s no one else in the world who should have this. Only you.’

I turn the brooch over in my hand, admiring the subtle colours and vintage design. ‘It’s gorgeous,’ I say. ‘But …’ I sigh. This is all too much. ‘I don’t know if I can accept it.’ I pass it back to her.

‘Why on earth not?’ Her eyes open wide.

‘It’s my father. I don’t know how I feel … I’m just having a hard time accepting—’

‘His work,’ she finishes.

‘Yes.’ I feel a flood of emotions wash over me.