As if reading her mind, her mother nodded in the direction of the rose-pink curtains. ‘Pretty bedroom, isn’t it? Flan’s been doing a spot of work.’

Conor’s father shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘I’ll go and make us a cup of tea. If you want anything else, Ginny, give me a shout.’

Tess leaned in and kissed her mother. As she did, she could see the neat bump beneath the sheets. Her mother’s face appeared bloodless, and there were dark shadows beneath her green eyes.

She switched on the bedside lamp and stared at Tess. ‘If that’s the latest trend, I don’t think much of it.’

‘Another one who doesn’t like my make-up. Deranged clown is very autumn/winter ’ninety-one, I’ll have you know.’ Tess lowered herself onto a green-seated chair. The picture of the two of them at the beach was on the dressing table beside a box of tissues and a tangle of bracelets. ‘My Farrah Fawcett photo,’ her mam had always called it. Tess was glad it had made the journey from Pearse Terrace.

‘I—’ she began, but her mother interrupted.

‘I don’t want an argument. This pregnancy business is harder than I remembered, and I don’t have the energy for a row.’

‘I’m not much better myself,’ said Tess. This was true. It felt like a week had passed since she’d been sitting in Rik’s studio, drinking foul coffee and lamenting her night out. ‘I’m not here for a row. I’m here to say sorry.’ This, too, was true, but only part of the story. She had the feeling her mother knew that.

‘And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you your father was dead.’

‘You mean he isn’t?’ Tess fought, and failed, to keep the excitement from her voice.

Her mother gave a hurried shake of the head. ‘No, that’s not what I mean.’ She paused. ‘I mean it was wrong to give you some information and not the rest. And I shouldn’t have lied.’

‘I’m not with you.’

‘When I said he wasn’t from around here, and that I didn’t know him … that part was a lie.’

Tess felt a fluttering high in her chest. ‘I see.’

‘If I’m being honest, I always knew this day would come. I just wanted to postpone it for as long as possible. But, like you told me the other week, you’re an adult now and you’re entitled to the truth. All the same, I’ve a feeling you won’t like what you’re going to hear.’

‘You don’t have to tell me.’ Tess didn’t mean this, but felt it was what she should say.

‘We both know I do.’

Flan arrived with tea and a plate of toast. ‘You look like you could do with something to eat,’ he said to Tess.