‘We could have the party at home.’ Liv pushed the chives and dressing from her salad leaves with the back of her knife. ‘Or the Chelsea Physic Garden! I can’t wait to get out of here. I can’t wait to go.’ She gestured her neck as though she were choking, or overwhelmed by heat.

Dan smiled at Bea but she didn’t notice. The waiters put new plates in front of them, the lobster, and silver bowls of sauce. Together, they stirred it and, with a synchronised nod, went inside.

‘Liv,’ said Griff, ‘tell them your idea for the music.’

‘Yes, do you remember Alex’s friend Will?’ she asked. ‘Who was in that band?’

Bea, startled by her memory, nodded.

‘He lives near us. Tony and Erica’s son? We still see them, they’re lovely. We saw Will the other day. He’s married, and he has two little children! His wife is Billy Henderson’s daughter. Anyway, he’s working with Tony now, but he still has the band! They play pubs and things. You know, people from that old crowd. He was such a talented boy.’

Bea put down her knife and fork, smelling blood again, the mangled car.

‘I wondered if I should ask him to play, at Alex’s party,’ said Liv.

‘He visited him at the Priory,’ said Bea.

Liv reached to pat her arm, but Bea pulled away, knocking over a tall glass of water.

‘Christ,’ said her father. ‘What’s wrong with you?’

The water pooled and spread. Bea let it run from the table, calmly.

‘Liv,’ said Dan, ‘maybe you should have it at home. More personal, right?’

‘Yes, you’re right, Dan!’ said Liv. ‘Griff? Don’t you think Dan’s right?’

Bea left the table. She went inside. The two waiters were smoking by the open door. The older one threw away his cigarette, and asked her if she needed anything.

‘No, thank you. It’s all amazing, thanks. I’m just not feeling very well.’

She went upstairs to her room. Dan stayed downstairs. She had known he would. He wasn’t doing it because he loved them. He was doing it for the money. She closed her eyes. She paid attention to the silence. She tried to.

The four of them flew back to London, like a family. Bea and Dan brought only a few things, they weren’t planning to stay long. The memorial would be in two days. Bea surrendered. She gave up trying to travel separately, then gave up trying to go economy. She didn’t have the strength for battle. Liv emailed caterers from the first-class lounge. Eight seats on the plane, because Griff always had his assistant Solange book the row if he was forced to fly a commercial airline. Dan had brought the Italian leather holdall Bea had given him from the Oxfam shop.