‘She learned that from an air hostess called Trixie,’ Bridie said. ‘Trixie was her name – you couldn’t make it up.’

‘No, Ma, I learned how to do it in the hairdressing school. I taught Trixie how to do it when she got the air-hostess job, remember?’

‘Oh, yeah,’ Bridie said, ‘but “Trixie”! I mean, why would you do that to a child?’

Valerie laughed. ‘It’s not as bad as calling a kid “Assumpta” or “Jacinta”.’

‘Ah, I like “Jacinta”,’ Bridie said.

‘Or “Bridie”. Sorry, Grammy.’

‘Ah, no, love, that’s fair. “Bridie” is a desperate name. Me mother’s mother was Bridie and she didn’t even like her that much. She probably picked it because she was too cheap to buy a baby name book.’

‘I don’t think they had them back then,’ Maisie said.

Valerie laughed. ‘In the stone age.’

‘Ha-ha! You can laugh now, Valerie Bean, but it passes in a flash, this life of ours. You’ll blink and twenty years will have gone by and the world will have changed and I’ll be pushing up daisies.’

‘Ah, don’t say that, Ma.’

‘Why not? It’s true. I don’t mind, love. Rather that than sit there dribbling.’ Her eyes swam with tears but she smiled anyway. ‘Quick is the best.’

Maisie allowed Valerie to secure Grammy’s bun. ‘Good job,’ Maisie said.

Grammy smiled. ‘Ah, lovely, you’ve got your ma’s way with hair. You’re a very good girl, Valerie.’ She held her granddaughter’s cheeks and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

Grammy looked like her old self, pretty and light, and for the first time that day, Valerie felt happy. Despite the sadness, fear and apprehension, the insane crying and stubby sore fingers, it had turned into a nice morning.

Maisie

Lynn arrived after eleven, complaining about being delayed at the GP. Maisie could hear her, bustling about the kitchen helping Bridie make tea, while she spoke to Lorraine at the dental surgery about needing some more time off.

‘Of course, anything you need, Maisie. It’s terrible, awful, I mean the things they’re sayin’. We want you to know we’re all behind you one hundred per cent. You’re a lovely ma, a great ma and, well … that’s it. Sorry. We miss you.’

‘Thanks, Lorraine.’ She said goodbye and walked into the hallway with the phone in her hand. Lynn was frying something and Maisie could smell bacon.

‘This will put meat on your bones, Valerie Bean.’

‘I’m starving, Lynn.’

‘Good girl. Set the table, and, Bridie Bean, stay away from the fridge. No cheese for you today.’