‘Park House opened around twenty-five years ago, and we’re currently home to thirty-one guests . . .’ Miriam explains as they walk.

‘It’s pretty here, isn’t it?’ Nan says.

Chloe doesn’t need to turn around to know Claire is smiling behind her.

‘We’re just starting a major renovation, extending the site to incorporate some of the land either side of us. We will be adding six new bedrooms, and an adapted kitchen to support residents to be independent for as long as they can – for some, just being able to keep making their own cup of tea can make a real difference.’

Claire smiles and nods. ‘The facilities here are what makes Park House one of the top ten specialist dementia care homes in the region,’ she interjects.

Chloe ignores her.

They’re back where they started. Chloe glances at the matron, confused.

‘We understand that people with dementia like walking,’ she says, ‘so this circular corridor with the garden in the middle means they can walk for hours safely and enjoy the view while they do.’

Clever, Chloe thinks. Not that she says it. She’s been determined not to like this care home since Claire had told her she’d found the ‘perfect place’ for Nan when they got her back home.

‘She doesn’t need a perfect place,’ Chloe had snapped at her. ‘She’s got one, right here with me.’

Not that it had made any difference.

‘Grace needs twenty-four-hour care, Chloe,’ Claire had said, ‘and you have a job, it’s impossible for you to be there for her all the time, as much as I know you’d like to be.’

She wanted to say that’s what Nan had always done for her, that it had always been the two of them. But what was the point? It would only sound saccharine and sentimental to a social worker. Instead, she’d swallowed it down and so here they were.

The matron shows them a couple of bedrooms. They remind Chloe of ones in motels – not that she’s ever stayed in one, but she’s seen them on television or in movies. These rooms have nice touches: bedside tables and vases, black and white pictures of the city in years gone by. Claire points out to Nan that the resident in this particular room has covered one of her walls in photographs of her grandchildren. Chloe tries to move her on by taking her elbow and leading her out the room.

‘Hasn’t she got it nice, Chloe?’ Nan says.

Chloe nods, quickly, and Claire smiles at her as Miriam leads the way. Claire lingers in the room and catches Chloe’s hand as Nan follows Miriam.

‘I think she likes it, do you?’ she asks.

‘Let’s not be too hasty,’ Chloe replies.