Jeanie looked rather sheepish, but managed a smile at least. ‘It had its moments,’ she said, ‘and was mostly wonderful. Even more wonderful when your dad turned up out of the blue, obviously.’

‘Welcome back, Dad,’ said Dave, hugging him. ‘You look well. Want a hand with your bags?’

‘Thanks, son,’ Harry said. ‘We’ve had a smashing few days.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ Dave replied. ‘Hang on,’ he said, as his phone started ringing, ‘I’ll just take this.’

‘Mum, do you want me to carry anything?’ Paula asked. ‘Blimey, are you sure you’ve got enough duty-free there?’

‘I couldn’t resist picking up a few things for the kiddies,’ Jeanie confessed, opening the carrier bag to reveal Toblerones, a science kit, some cool-looking headphones. ‘And there’s your favourite perfume somewhere in there as well, plus . . .’

‘What?’ Dave said just then into the phone in such a shocked voice that they all looked over at him. ‘Oh God. Is she okay?’

Paula had a bad feeling inside as she saw how the colour was blanching from his face. ‘No, her name’s Bernadette,’ Dave said, passing a hand across his face. His mouth seemed to buckle and he leaned heavily against a pillar for support. ‘Bunny for short . . . Is it definitely her? What’s the car registration?’ His body sagged. ‘Right. Yes. That is her.’

‘What’s going on?’ Jeanie asked Paula in concern. ‘Is he all right?’

‘I don’t know,’ Paula replied, still watching her brother’s face. His eyes were glassy as if he was being told something terrible, and she felt her own stomach bottom out in alarm.

‘Right,’ he said, swallowing hard and nodding, seemingly oblivious to the others staring at him. ‘Okay. I’ll come over straight away. Oh God. Okay, thanks.’ He hung up, looking dazed and kind of queasy. ‘I’ve got to go,’ he said. ‘That was the police. Bunny . . . she’s been in an accident.’

Once Dave had left, practically sprinting in his haste, Paula and her parents headed for the car park in subdued silence. Dave hadn’t been able to give them any more details other than that Bunny was in hospital, following a car crash, but it had sounded serious. Paula loaded the suitcases into the boot of her car, feeling worried for vibrant, smiling Bunny and for poor Dave too, who was so besotted with her. Yet another crisis to hit the family!