She hugged them again. ‘I hope Edgar will be okay. That Hazel has a great stay. That Celine behaves herself. That —’

‘Eliza, go, darling. Think about yourself, not us.’

She waved until they were out of sight.

*

As they made their way through the outskirts of Edinburgh, Lawrence asked if she’d like to listen to the radio. She accepted, glad when he chose Classic FM and soothing music filled the car. She was so nervous. She needed to stay as peaceful as possible, she realised, to think ahead to —

Her phone pinged. Sullivan.

Safe travels, FF. I’ll miss you.

I’ll miss you too, she said. Have you got any plans today?

Dad’s trying to take the day off! We might go on the open-top bus tour together!

The thought of it made Eliza happy.

They soon left the city behind. Green hills started to appear.

‘Thank you again for this,’ she said to Lawrence. ‘I know I should be able to drive at my age.’

‘I like driving. I also like ferries. And Ireland. I should be thanking you for the two days off work.’

‘But you’re the boss. You can give yourself days off whenever you want.’

‘Only on paper. Olivia’s the real boss.’

‘Lawrence, I don’t know exactly what Olivia told you —’

‘It’s your business, Eliza. You don’t have to tell me anything. I’m here as your chauffeur. You can even sit in the back if you want.’

‘I’m fine here, but thank you.’

She gazed out the window as they took the road to Cairnryan Port, the music gently filling the car. Lawrence was peaceful company, happy with silence between them.

The only interruptions were the messages coming in on her phone.

Olivia first. All ok?

Then Maxie. Everything ok? Mxx

Rose. Thinking of you, my friend. R xx

Eliza had phoned her the evening before and told her all that was happening. She was grateful again for the feeling of being surrounded, watched over.

She sent back brief replies, then switched her phone to vibrate only and closed her eyes. In came thoughts of her mother. Would Jeannie have wanted her to be making this trip? Wanted her to be meeting Emmet after all these years? There was no way of knowing. Her anxiety started to rise again.

She sought distraction in conversation. ‘Where did you grow up, Lawrence?’

If he was startled by the sudden personal question, he didn’t show it.

‘We moved around a lot. My father was English, but my mother was French. We went back and forth between their two countries for a lot of my childhood. We had a few years in Germany too.’

‘That’s why you’re fluent in so many languages?’

‘It helped. My father had his own export business.’

‘Have you got brothers and sisters?’