Rory didn’t seem to mind. ‘I loved my mother because she’s my mother, Sullivan. I was very sad when she died. But Olivia’s always been kind to me. I love her too in a different way.’

‘And which of your mothers did your father love the most?’

‘Sullivan!’ Eliza said. ‘Rory, I’m sorry.’

‘It’s fine, Eliza. He loved them both, Sullivan. I don’t remember him fighting with either of them.’

‘He wouldn’t remember now either, would he? I heard about his dementia. I’m very sorry.’

Eliza gave up trying to step in. Rory seemed comfortable enough answering any questions.

‘I’m actually not sure he even knows who I am any more. Or what’s happening around him.’

‘So you could do whatever you like and he wouldn’t know?’ Sullivan said.

‘Well, I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.’

Eliza got up to pay the bill, before Sullivan turned his laser questioning on her. On her return, she gathered up her coat. ‘Time we got you home, Sullivan.’

‘But we’re getting on so well,’ he said.

‘If we want to have that zoo trip together, we need to stay in your father’s good books.’

He stood up immediately. ‘Good thinking, Eliza,’ he said.

Eliza walked him up to the front door at seven p.m. He rang the bell once. Twice.

The door was opened by a woman in her thirties, pretty, with long dark hair. ‘Sullivan, you’re back.’ She had an English accent. ‘I wasn’t expecting you this early.’

‘We’re right on time as it happens, Sophie.’ He introduced Eliza to his stepmother. ‘Eliza has offered to take me to the zoo next week. As long as she gets permission, of course.’

Sophie ignored that. ‘I hope he was good today?’ she asked Eliza.

‘The epitome of good behaviour,’ Eliza said, smiling. ‘Sorry, his great vocabulary is catching.’

Sophie didn’t react. ‘Sullivan, go and get ready for bed. One hour on screens. No more.’

He gave a boyish whoop and ran towards the stairs, stopped, then ran back. He flung his arms around Eliza with sudden force.

‘That was a fantastic outing, Eliza, thank you. I can’t wait for our zoo visit. Enjoy London.’

He ran past her again, up the stairs and out of sight. Sophie waited, then lowered her voice.

‘Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I needed a break.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘All those questions! You do know he’s obsessed with lemurs? Dean had to take him to the zoo three times last year.’

Eliza found herself feeling defensive. ‘I’ve never met a kid like him. He’s great fun.’