This is her time, her moment, thought Kate. Becky was about to be launched into the world. This was what she, Kate, had dreamed of for her when she’d been born in that hospital twenty-one years ago. Despite Kate’s numerous cock-ups and inadequacies, her daughter had managed to make something of herself. Becky had heard only the previous week that she’d been offered a prestigious place at a respected national paper, the Herald, on one of their graduate traineeships, and would be starting at the end of the month. Everything lay ahead of her. Her whole life. She was right at the beginning. About to start a career in the field she’d wanted to work in since she was a child. So much to look forward to. So much to experience.

Kate couldn’t help reflecting on what she’d been doing the summer she was twenty-one. She’d had a six-year-old – that same wonderful girl on the stage right now – and they’d taken their first holiday together, in a mobile home in Devon. God, it felt like a long time ago. She briefly wondered what her life might have been like if she’d stood on a stage like Becky, collecting a degree. Her parents looking on proudly from the audience. What might she have studied? What could she have achieved?

Then they were all throwing their hats into the air and the whole auditorium was clapping and cheering. Kate stood with the rest, helping Iris to her feet. She tidied the past away and was filled with joy. Her daughter was so fiery, so passionate about what she wanted to do, Becky would likely achieve enough for the both of them.

The celebrations continued out on the roof terrace. The views were breathtaking. From the grassy lawn, Kate could see the London Eye rising above Iris’s shoulder with its graceful slow turns, the pods dropping below the edge of the roof wall and then eventually rising up again, continuous and reliable. The grey-green river flowed and glistened in the sunlight, a myriad of boats passing through. Around them were the voices of the young, the air ringing with opportunity and optimism. Gowns were open in the warmth or had been discarded, and the new graduates, drinking from plastic glasses, spilled onto the grass and around the edges of the planters filled with deep yellow sunflowers and scarlet geraniums.

She saw Becky and her best friend from the course, Maria, head over to them, clutching cups of Pimm’s and lemonade. They were deep in conversation about something. Becky was shaking her head, shamefaced.

‘What are you two up to?’ asked Kate, as they approached, handing out the cold, minty drinks.

‘Becky has been managing unwanted amorous attention,’ said Maria.

‘Oh, yes?’

‘Oh, don’t, I feel bad,’ said Becky.

‘What do I say if he gets in touch, checks the number with me?’ teased Maria.

‘You can’t give it to him,’ pleaded Becky. ‘Promise?’

Maria laughed and promised, then went off to find her own family, wishing them all a good summer and congratulating Becky again on her job. Maria herself was going to take up a journalism fellowship at Harvard.