‘Thanks, love.’ Pat fishes out a clean tissue and blows her nose. ‘It was going to be our way of making it up to you. All the family together, with the cousins all playing, having a laugh. What am I going to do without my boy? I can’t believe he’s gone.’ She holds the tissue to her mouth for a moment, trying to stem her emotion. ‘Will you still come… for Christmas? Say you will. We need you here. With us.’

‘That sounds good,’ Catriona replies hesitantly, unwilling to commit.

‘Better still, you should stay. What’s the point in you going back? Thank goodness we have this little angel.’ Pat swings Grace up into her arms. ‘She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Growing up so fast. And she’s starting to look so much like her daddy. It’s the eyes.’

Catriona nods, swallowing, thankful that it’s been such a long time since Grace’s grandparents last saw her.

‘Seriously though, Catriona, I wish you’d take us up on our offer to move up to Middlesbrough permanently. We’ll find you a pretty flat near the house. We’ll all look after you. You wouldn’t want for anything. Gracie would have all her family around her. It would be so good for both of you. You like it up here, don’t you?’

Tempting though it sounds, Catriona knows that it’s too risky. What if Grace starts talking about the things she remembers? A quick visit with her grandparents every few months is one thing, but seeing them day in, day out – that’s just asking for trouble. ‘It’s lovely of you to offer, Pat, but I’m a London girl. All my friends are there, you know?’

‘I just thought with your mum and dad gone… wouldn’t you like us to look after you both? I know you two weren’t married, but I still feel like I’m your mother-in-law. You can treat me like a second mum. I know I can never replace your own mother – God rest her soul – but…’ She breaks off, tears trailing down her cheeks.

Catriona takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. ‘Come and sit down, Pat.’ She leads her over to an empty table and they sit next to one another on the red faux-velvet chairs, Grace snuggling into Pat’s sizeable lap. If only life could be as simple as her and Grace staying here with Pat and Geoff – letting the kindly couple look after them both. But it’s an impossible fantasy.