Rowan tried to steer the conversation. ‘You’re looking well also, the pair of you. North is treating you well?’ Out of view of the camera he felt around for my hand and gave it a tight squeeze. It was a sore point, that Rowan’s parents had moved so far out of Birmingham. Rowan didn’t mind it much. But his parents – despite him being in his final year of university, with a house for afterwards already lined up – had expected him to move with them. When he’d asked what would happen to his relationship with me, his mother had said, ‘Well, if Edith really wants to be a part of this family …’

‘It is, immensely well, boy, immensely,’ Gregory answered, and Penny grumbled again. They’d moved there because Gregory – the owner of four high-end car dealerships in our hometown – had decided to try to conquer a different part of the country, with a new set of partners to support the venture. He was essentially a car salesman, but the first time I’d said that he’d gave me such a fierce look that I’d thought he might never speak to me again. I was thirteen at the time. I hadn’t made that mistake again. ‘We’re getting a lot of interest up here with hiring firms, people who aren’t necessarily looking to buy, but for their companies they’d like to …’ He then went on to explain the definition of what it meant to hire a car, in case Rowan and I weren’t sure. And this is what you’re marrying into. I squeezed Rowan’s hand again and tried to tune back in. ‘… some of the older clients from that way.’

‘Your father is excited at the prospect of turning the wedding into a large-scale business meeting.’

‘We’d better get a big enough venue then.’ Rowan forced a laugh. ‘So, Mum—’

‘Actually, son,’ Gregory interrupted. He put his arm around Penny and gave her a squeeze. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of work with the Flynns.’ From the look on Penny’s face, an ignorant bystander might think someone had just announced she were pregnant with a litter of piglets. It was the most animated I’d seen her in years. And it was the most contact I’d seen Rowan’s parents have with each other. ‘You remember them, don’t you? Skye’s parents?’

Rowan matched the gesture to give me a hug. But it was too late; I’d already started to fall to pieces – and I imagined my expression wasn’t too dissimilar to Penny’s now either. ‘I’m so sorry, can you excuse me for a minute?’ I didn’t wait for anyone’s approval before standing up and scooting out of the room, though. I only hovered outside to make sure I didn’t miss too much.