‘God, Sam, that must have been so awful for you,’ she said while rubbing my back the way Dad used to when I was a girl if I’d hurt myself and he was trying to soothe away the pain. ‘I’ve been in a lab all day and it’s like a vacuum from the outside world. I had no idea, otherwise I would have come and found you earlier. I’ve only just turned my phone back on and got your messages, I’m so sorry.’

‘That’s okay,’ I said and stood up straight to reach for some tissues to deal with the snot. Unfortunately, I’d also left a bit on Maggie’s shoulder and she laughed at my inept efforts at cleaning it up. It was pretty ludicrous and I managed to half-laugh, half-sob, which sounded so silly that Maggie laughed even more.

‘Well, Sam,’ she said as she held up the rubbish bin for the sodden tissues. ‘What are we going to do with you?’

I tossed them towards the basket and missed badly. The floor caught them. ‘Shoot me and put me out of my misery.’

‘After that fine display, if you tried it yourself, you’d probably miss. Just as well you had a damned big target this morning.’ I tried to smile, but the tears welled up again, instead and I could feel my face crumple.

‘Oh, sweetie, come back here,’ Maggie said, and wrapped her arm around my shoulders again, giving them a squeeze. ‘Besides, my snivelling little friend, if I shot you, it would make a hell of a mess on Aunt and Unc’s carpet. Anyway, I kind of like having you around, you keep me amused. Got any other suggestions?’

‘Am I allowed to suggest anything involving large quantities of alcohol?’

‘Only if I’m invited.’

‘You’re invited.’

‘I thought you’d say that, but I have to be honest. I don’t know if I want to be seen in public with someone whose eyes make her look like she’s spent the day smoking illegal plant life. I mean this in the nicest possibly way, but honey, you look like crap.’

‘Thanks, I needed that.’

‘You’re welcome. So, the first thing I’m going to do is take you downstairs and feed you up on some of Aunty Jude’s fabulous leftover lasagne, and I’ll even let you have the last bread bun, ’cos I’m generous like that.’

‘Gee whiz, ta.’

‘But wait, there’s more. I’ll even make you a cup of super-duper espresso coffee with the fresh roast beans I acquired from the Fix today.’