‘Oh, Rowena; and then I go and say you are lazy. I’m sorry, my darling. But I know what you mean and how you feel. We’re all displaced from where our beginnings were. You must long for home.’

‘No, not old Rowena. I know where me bread is buttered, and it ain’t in Jamaica, or in the cold and damp of the East End, where we met, honey-child. It’s right here with you, in sunny France. Or any place you choose to go.’

Touched by this and by the love she felt for Rowena, Flors hugged her. ‘I love you, Rowena darling. But I’m still going to insist that you come outside with us. None of your flattery will change my mind.’

Rowena grinned, showing her one tooth and lighting up her face. A tear plopped onto her withered cheek. It shone against the blackness of her skin.

‘I love you too, Rowena.’ Saying this, Lonia, who had been named after Ella’s late and much-loved nanny, climbed onto Rowena’s knee and put her arms around the old lady’s neck.

Although the gesture was lovely to see, Flors could tell it was causing pain to Rowena and was glad that Ella saw, too, as she gently steered her daughter away. ‘Lonia, go and tell Paulo and Monty to come for their break, there’s a good girl. They should be in the bottom vineyard. Tell them you aren’t bringing their tea to them, as Aunt Flors needs us all around her.’

‘Yes, Mama.’

As the inner fly-door closed with a bang, Flors turned to Rowena. ‘Let us help you, darling. We’ll take you to the bathroom and get you nice and comfortable. You can put that yellow frock on that we all love. You might feel more like sitting in the garden then.’

‘I’ll make the tea while you’re busy, ladies.’

‘Thanks, Arnie. Come on, Rowena.’

‘Huh, men these days. Not like in my day. Them’s never turned their hands to women’s work, and we wouldn’t let them. Get under your feet, they does.’

They all laughed at this, but there were no further objections from Rowena as Flors and Ella lifted her, washed her down and freshened her up. Flors did worry, though, about the weariness Rowena displayed.

With Rowena now settled in her rocking chair outside in the shade, Flors whipped off the blanket that had covered Rowena’s chair and wrinkled her nose.

‘I’ll wash the chair down, Flors. Have you a clean blanket to put over it?’

Once they’d finished, Flors had to smile. ‘That was like old times, Ella. We turned into nurses again.’