‘I’m glad you found someone you could talk to,’ her mother said. ‘But didn’t the grief support group help with that?’

Anna shook her head. ‘It’s not the same. It felt so forced, sitting in that dingy room, spilling everything out to strangers.’

‘But this man on the phone, he was a stranger too, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes, he was,’ Anna said. ‘At first…’

‘So how is that different?’

‘I don’t know if can explain it, because I’m not really sure I can pin it down myself. Maybe it’s the fact it was just an anonymous voice, no expectations, no judgement. All I know is that it helped. He helped.’ As Anna stirred her curry mixture, she was overcome by a sudden conviction. ‘Everyone who’s lost someone should have the opportunity to talk like that, Mum. Not counselling or therapy, although those things are good – but with someone who gets it because they’ve walked that path.’

Her mother smiled the very same smile she used to give when Anna brought home her nearly always glowing school reports. ‘Well, that sounds like a great idea!’

Anna squinted at her mother. ‘What idea?’

‘Setting up something for widows and widowers to talk to each other. I’ve been saying for ages that you needed a project to work on, something to feel excited about.’

Anna nodded slowly. Her mother had been saying that. For months, if not years, just as Gabi had. But she hadn’t been ready to listen to them, had she? It had taken ages for her to relent to any of Gabi’s suggestions for evening classes, and even longer before she’d found a class she enjoyed. But here she was now, nine months of salsa under her belt, and actually looking forward to it each week. Maybe there was something in what her mother was suggesting too?

‘I wouldn’t know where to start,’ she confessed.

‘No, me neither. I mean, you found this Brody by accident. How would anyone else do it? You can’t just start at the top of the phone book and begin dialling random numbers – if anyone had phone books anymore!’

Her mother was smiling now, and Anna smiled back. The idea was wonderful, but there were other things she needed to focus on at present. ‘Anyway, Mum, what I’m really trying to get across is that I’m ready to make some changes to my life.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And that includes starting to date…’

‘Oh!’ She’d obviously caught her mum off guard with that one. ‘Oh, Anna… I think that’s… Well, it’s a big step. But it’s wonderful!’

‘I have to admit, I’m terrified.’

‘Of course! But if you think you’re ready… Is it this Brody chap?’

Anna blinked. Brody? ‘Um. No. He…’ Her brain tangled around that idea. That was clearly impossible, because… because… ‘No, it’s not Brody, Mum. He’s just a friend.’ But even as her mouth said the word ‘friend’, she realized that was a pale and faint description for what Brody had come to mean to her. She shook her head, unable to process that thought right then. ‘His name is Jeremy. He’s from salsa. He’s asked me out before – a few months ago – and classes have just started up again after the summer break. He’s still single, and I think he’s still interested.’ She’d had a brief conversation with him after class, and although she was out of practice at this sort of thing, she thought she was reading things correctly.