“Your generation are so emotional.” Kathleen fiddled with the strap of her bag, kneading it, twisting it. “Fine, let’s do it. It will be a disaster, and then I will take great pleasure in firing you.”

Martha smiled. “If it goes badly, you’ll need me as the getaway driver.”

“If I’m relying on your driving skills to escape then we’re all doomed.” What should she do? Martha was right, of course. She was terrified. Seeing Ruth could rip open everything. “In case we have a major falling out, I should probably give you this now.” She leaned down and retrieved the parcel she’d tucked into the car a few days earlier. “It’s a thank-you.”

“A thank-you for what?”

“For not singing even when you were bursting to do so. For humoring a cantankerous old lady on the trip of a lifetime. For being the best company. And for smiling even when you were terrified.” She saw Martha’s eyes fill and waved a hand. “No! No crying.”

Martha brushed her hand over her eyes and opened the box Kathleen had handed her.

“Oh Kathleen—” She lifted the teapot out of the box and stared at it in wonder. “It’s perfect. Where did you find this?”

“I am fortunate in having well-connected friends who can make things happen.” She sent silent thanks to Liza who had sourced it, and Finn who had navigated the astonishing complexities of transportation.

“Red cherries.” Martha sounded choked. “It’s exactly like the one Nanna had.”

“Your grandmother would be proud of you, Martha.”

“I’ll treasure it. I’m never going to use it.”

“That would be a pity. A teapot is designed to hold tea, just as a human being is designed to live life no matter how hard it seems at times.” She felt her voice waver, and knew that Martha heard it too. Kathleen saw her glance at Josh.

“Could you go for a walk? We’re five minutes early, anyway.”

“Early for what? We’re having tea, not watching the opera.” Kathleen’s fingers were white on the bag. The moment had come, and she couldn’t delay it any longer. “And why does Josh need to walk anywhere? Given that I’m already in possession of far too much detail regarding the extraordinary regeneration of your sex life, I can’t imagine any conversation that would require his absence.”

Martha turned back to her. “I know you’re anxious, but there really are only two outcomes here. One is that you no longer have any bond with Ruth, you find her boring and we leave after a very painful cup of tea.”

“Tea can’t be painful unless you spill it shortly after pouring.”

Martha ignored her. “Two, you bond as you did the first time you met and can’t stop talking. Then you have the best afternoon you’ve had in a while. That’s the one I vote for.”