‘You know, like, having children that aren’t biologically yours but still being their dad.’

He took a moment before he answered. ‘Do you want to adopt?’

‘I’m just asking in theory, really. Do you think you could do it?’

Francesco stroked her arm and nuzzled into her neck. ‘I think there’s a million ways to make a family, and I’m open to them all,’ he said.

Penny closed her eyes, smiling. ‘I think the same,’ she replied. ‘Night.’

8

‘Oh my god,’ said Penny, her phone screen lighting up her face in the darkness. ‘Francesco, wake up. Francesco!’

Francesco stirred and looked at the clock on the bedside table – it was 5 a.m.

‘It’s Uncle David. Something happened.’

He propped himself up on one elbow. ‘What? What happened?’

‘I’m not sure. Something to do with his heart? He’s at the hospital. I’ve got to …’

Francesco reached out a hand. ‘Hey,’ he said, his touch warm and his voice calm. ‘I’m here. It’s okay. Get dressed. I’ll take you.’

Penny could barely hear him. It felt like she’d been hit in the stomach with a plank of wood. All Eric’s text said, after a string of missed calls, was: We’re at the Derby Royal. He’s asking for you. It started with chest pains, waiting to find out more. Call me!!

The next few hours were a blur. Francesco borrowed Safiya’s bread delivery van and drove at one hundred miles per hour up the M1. It got lighter outside. Penny remembered realizing, sat in the hospital waiting room, that she was wearing her pyjama shorts under her jeans instead of underwear. She remembered how pale Eric had looked – she might remember that forever – and how little there was of him when they’d hugged, as if he’d shrunk from the worry. She remembered walking into the emergency room and wanting to walk back out, because Uncle David did not look like Uncle David.

‘Eric …’ Penny said. And then she burst into tears.

Francesco stayed with her through all of it, feeding her sugared tea when she refused to eat and calling Clementine to establish when she’d arrive with Rima. He’d gone down to the hospital shop to get a flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste so that Penny could freshen up, and let her rest her head in his lap, stroking her hair, as they waited for David to come out of surgery. He’d stayed, even in the scariest bits – especially because they were scary – and Penny had let herself need him throughout all of it. She held his hand, and didn’t let go.

‘You had me so fucking worried, Davvy.’

Penny all but launched herself at her uncle’s bed, where he was sat up, feebly eating a hospital dinner. He was the colour of the pillowcase.

‘He had us all worried,’ Eric said, shaking his head. ‘Fuck is about right.’