Yes, that’s true, but I also have family in Scotland. Ancestors. It’s where I was born and where every generation of my family before me was born as far back as time remembers.

Elle got that. It really was something special to be able to trace your family line back so far, but she could also see where her father was coming from. Gran was his mother and he wanted to have a place to be able to visit her.

‘You know, I saw this story about a woman who lost her son a while back. He had a bucket list of places he wanted to go but never had the chance to do it, so she set up a Facebook page and people from all over the world were sent a small packet with some of his ashes in it to scatter, so that he could go there. Maybe we could do something like that. Leave some of … well, leave some here for us.’

You want to divide me up and shove me into little plastic bags? Gran sounded horrified by the thought.

Elle frowned. ‘I just thought maybe leaving some of …’

Me? You mean leaving some of me here? Gran supplied pointedly.

‘Okay, sorry I mentioned it,’ Elle said, shaking her head and putting her hands up in surrender.

No, Elspeth, I don’t think I’d like being divided up … I mean, what if I need to be in one piece … so to speak.

‘Need to be in one piece for what?’ Elle asked cautiously.

Well … for whatever comes next.

‘How does it all work?’ Elle asked, suddenly unsure of almost everything. ‘Is this like the first stage or something?’

I don’t know, Gran said, sounding slightly bemused. It’s not like anyone gave me a handbook.

‘Do you remember … dying?’ Elle asked curiously.

Not really … I mean, I remember being in the hospital and I could hear everything. That reminds me, darling, you must tell your brothers and sisters that I was very touched that they all made the trip home to say goodbye to me. That was really special. I was a very lucky old woman to have been loved so well by such beautiful grandchildren. Elle felt her throat clog up once more with tears. And you must remind your father, often, how much I loved him. He was the best son I could ever have wished for. I know he doesn’t understand—bless his heart, he was always such a serious child.

That made her think. ‘Gran, how come the others can’t hear you?’

Elle almost heard the soft smile in her gran’s voice. They aren’t listening.

‘What do you mean?’

It doesn’t matter now, Gran replied simply. What matters is I’d rather not be divvied up into zip-lock bags, she finished dryly.