Romy could almost hear Michael scoffing at the word ‘setback’, but she didn’t interrupt.

‘I’ve put him on paroxetine. I’m afraid he’s showing clear signs of depression. The panic attack was a symptom.’ He handed Romy a prescription slip. ‘It takes a while for it to kick in, so don’t expect any improvement immediately, usually around a couple of weeks. Could be as much as six.’

But this was the third blow of the day. Before breakfast, she’d found Daniel in the kitchen, his eyes red from weeping. His mother, so his father had told him earlier, had suffered an escalation of the renal cancer she’d been fighting, and been told she had only months to live.

‘I will stay until Friday,’ he said, his usual pragmatic self, despite the devastating news. ‘You will have time to get someone else for Mr Michael,’ he said.

Romy hugged him, reeling at the news. ‘For goodness’ sake, Daniel, don’t worry about us. I’m so sorry about your mum. You said she’d been ill, but I thought she was better.’

He gave a sad smile. ‘I thought so too.’

‘We’ll all miss you so much. You’ve done miracles with Michael – I know it hasn’t always been easy.’

Daniel shrugged. ‘I will miss you too.’

‘But it won’t be long before he’s able to manage on his own, with a bit of luck.’

He had smiled encouragingly, but the message she’d read in his light blue eyes told her it would need more than luck.

Then there had been her phone call to Finch. She desperately wanted to apologize for what she’d implied about Grace, in the heat of the moment, which, whatever doubts she still had about Michael, had been so insensitive.

‘Hi, Romy.’ Finch’s voice was subdued, but the hostility from Sunday was no longer apparent. Now she had him on the other end of the phone, though, how to say what she wanted to say?

Before she’d had a chance to speak, it was Finch who was apologizing. ‘I’m sorry for being so aggressive the other day, storming out like that,’ he said, almost formally. But despite the apology, she couldn’t hear any note of affection in his voice and the knowledge twisted her heart.

‘No, please, it’s me who should apologize. That’s why I rang, to say how sorry I am for what I said.’

‘Thank you.’ Finch spoke the words softly. Then he went on, ‘Have you talked to Michael?’

‘Not yet. He had a bad panic attack yesterday …’ Romy ground to a halt, but Finch said nothing, and she hurried on, ‘The doctor said he shouldn’t get wound up. So I plan to talk to him later today. I need him to listen properly to what I have to say.’

Finch did not reply.

‘Finch?’