‘We did talk, though I’m not sure it helped,’ Steve answered. ‘Bella didn’t want me to be alone for the rest of my life, but we had the added complication of the boys. I was told that if I did find someone, she wasn’t to be introduced to them until I knew she was the one. Bella bent the boys’ ears too, telling them to accept whoever I chose. Needless to say, we haven’t put that to the test yet. It’s not easy finding someone who would meet the approval of two grubby teenagers, and live up to Bella’s expectations too.’

‘And what’s been your experience, Nick?’ Justine asked. ‘Did you and your wife talk about afterwards?’

‘No, we didn’t,’ he said. ‘And we weren’t married.’

As Faith rested a hand on Nick’s back, Steve said, ‘She was the woman you loved, mate. Same difference.’

‘See,’ Jodie said. ‘Not everyone wants to think about their partner copping off with someone else after they’re gone. Ryan hated me mentioning my exes, so I doubt very much he’d be wishing me well with some other bloke. No one has the right to put words in his mouth. They only do it because they don’t want miserable me spoiling their Christmas. Well, I’m sorry if I’m upsetting their perfect little lives. Shit happens, and it happened to me.’

Jodie’s lips trembled and, as her body curled into itself, Nadiya pulled her close.

‘Does anyone else have anything to share?’ Justine said loudly. ‘I’m sure Jodie’s not the only one dreading Christmas.’ When she darted nervous glances around the room, no one expected Faith to come to her rescue.

‘How about you, Justine?’ she asked, her tone softer than usual. ‘I know you’ve been finding it tough lately, tougher still without Tara.’

‘Oh, it’s not too bad. We’ll get there.’

‘I’m sure you will,’ Faith replied. ‘But won’t you have some pressure points at Christmas?’

‘Actually, I have Lisa’s parents coming over on Boxing Day,’ she said. ‘We’re not particularly close, they took time getting used to their daughter’s life choices, but in their defence they accepted both of their grandchildren equally, even if Lisa was technically only birth mother to one. We’ve made the effort over the years for the sake of the children, but it’s not always easy. They say they don’t blame me for failing to get Lisa to the hospital sooner, but I would if I were them. I didn’t know about sepsis back then. I kept telling Lisa she was a malingerer and that the NHS had enough to deal with.’

‘Like you said, you didn’t know about sepsis,’ Faith replied. ‘You need to forgive yourself before you can accept the forgiveness of others.’