‘I’ve got to get my head round this, Jamie. But I very much doubt you’ll be coming with me.’ She heard a noise upstairs. ‘And don’t say a word to Granny, it will just upset her. Okay?’

‘Okay, but I don’t see why I can’t go too. He invited me first!’

‘Let’s chat about it tomorrow, Jamie. Now go and get your PJs on and I’ll order the fish and chips in a minute.’

She stared at the note again.

Hi Jamie, how you going, mate? I’m back in town, would be good to catch up for a bit of footie or something. I’ll be down on Magdalen Green the next two afternoons if you fancy catching up.

Cheers,

Pete x

P.S. Bring your mum too.

She still didn’t understand why she was a mere P.S. That must have been him at the funeral, after all. What the hell was going on?

‘Fiona, I’m not sure I can be bothered to stay up for anything to eat, I might go off to bed early.’ Her mum stood in her bare feet at the kitchen door. Fiona covered the note with her hand. ‘You and Jamie get the fish and chips though. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, need to try to get a proper night’s sleep.’

‘You’re not going to carry on with the sleeping tablets, Mum, are you?’

‘No, don’t worry, I’m not becoming an addict. I intend to stop from tonight.’

‘What have you got on tomorrow anyway?’

‘Got to see the lawyer again.’

‘I can come with you?’

‘I’m fine on my own,’ she snapped. She slumped down onto the chair beside Fiona. ‘Sorry darling, of course you can come, if you want.’ Dorothy reached out for Fiona’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry I’ve been such a grumpy old cow, I think these tablets have been doing something to me. I feel so down and then suddenly I’ll be on a bit of a high, like I was at the service.’

‘It’s what happens with those pills. So you’re going to give up now?’

Dorothy nodded. She had tears in her eyes. ‘Fi, sweetheart, it’s just the two of us now Dad’s gone, we’ve got to stop bickering. Come here.’

Fiona reached over and the two women hugged. They were both crying.

‘I should have been less crotchety and more grateful for everything you’ve done for the past fortnight, darling. You’ve run the house and I have done nothing. Thank you, my love.’

‘Mum, it’s all fine. And if you’d prefer to go to the lawyer’s alone, that’s also fine. I’m here if you need me.’ Fiona gave her mum a kiss.

‘Granny, d’you want me to make you some hot chocolate with that special whizzing stick Allie gave me?’