The journey is straightforward. Molly stares out of the window as the landscape broadens and opens up into Cambridgeshire. Further towards the city itself, she recalls, the landscape flattens into fenland, but here in the east of the county are rolling hills and she squints her eyes against the bright sunshine, enjoying the wide vistas, the kind you never really get in Suffolk. A sign to the Gog and Magog Hills reminds her how ancient legends persist; they were twin giants rather than dragons, but the same applies and she is glad for it.

She has been trying not to think about Kit. Ever since Bella told her she’d made contact, a small tender spot has reopened in her heart. He was her first love, after all, but he never reciprocated romantically – not even with a touch or a glance, not even for an instant. It left her with the sense that she must somehow be unattractive to boys, a belief that it took many years to overcome. If any boys should happen to show an interest, she would shun them, for fear of being rejected. Which was partly why she made such a disastrous choice of husband, Molly reflects now; he was the only one desperate enough to persevere.

But, of course, that brief union brought a very happy outcome. She glances at Bella. ‘You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, you know.’

‘Blimey, Mum, where did that come from?’ Bella smiles back, keeping her eyes on the road.

‘I don’t know. I was just thinking about your dad.’

‘Odd, since we’re on our way to meet your childhood sweetheart,’ Bella says. ‘Are you excited, Mum?’

‘Nervous, more like,’ Molly says.

‘Well, not long to wait. We’re nearly there.’

As they pass a sign for the vineyard her heart seems to flutter in her chest and she hopes it’s not the sign of an impending heart attack. It would be a shame to conk out before they’ve even had a chance to meet, after all these years. At last the car slows and they turn onto a long cement driveway.

It’s been arranged that they will meet in the cafe that is part of the visitor centre. Whoever thought a vineyard would have such things, Molly wonders? The car park is surprisingly busy, presumably with people taking the Vineyard Tour that is advertised all along the approach. Thank heavens it also has disabled parking, which means she will not have to use the wheelchair to cross a long distance. She refuses to greet her old flame at waist level.