‘I know I can do it. It’s a huge place, and I’d have to work twice as hard as I do. I just … I changed my mind about wanting that life. I know you understand that. I love Stoke Newington, now, and I love Bridges and my life there. I’d feel this way even if The Red Panda was next door. It’s a lot. A whole pub. A restaurant pub. I don’t want that anymore.’

She was letting it all out, now, this stream of consciousness.

‘But he was there through everything, Clementine. He’s a dad and a mum and an uncle and a friend and a cheerleader. And I am so, so mad he’s putting me in this position, and what’s worse is that he hasn’t even asked me yet. Eric basically did, but I get a sense that they’re waiting for me to offer. I wonder if I can give it a year, or agree to do it for two. Until he is stronger and can decide if he wants to sell. Huh. Like that isn’t what Eric has wanted for years. Eric has wanted to sell and Uncle David has waited it out to see if he can convince me to take over, and now here we are … literally life or death. I can’t tell him I’m mad but I am. I am so, so mad he’d ask me to do this. Even though he isn’t asking. I’m so mad that I have to offer.’

The tears came harder, every atom of worry from the past twelve hours leaking from her eyes.

‘I’m so mad. But I’m so relieved.’

‘I’m going to go and find some tissues,’ Francesco soothed, understanding he was encroaching on a deeply personal family discussion. ‘Can I get anybody anything else?’ He knew Penny needed her sister right now, and it was better to excuse himself for a moment. The women all watched him head towards the hospital shop for fake supplies.

‘And then there’s Francesco,’ Penny hissed, her voice lowered. ‘It started to feel like something, and I know it still can be, in theory, but also he is there and I will be here and he works shifts and I’m going to be in charge and probably never get a day off and it’s just asking for heartbreak, isn’t it? I’d be heartbroken to leave him in London – but I don’t want to limp on with him until Christmas and then be heartbroken all over again.’

Clementine slid across to Penny’s side of the table and started to stroke her hair, like their mother used to do when they were small.

‘No,’ she insisted. ‘You could make it work. People do.’ Rima leaned across the table with both hands, each one grabbing a sister and doing the only thing she could: holding on tightly.