‘A letter from who?’ Ruby asked the question Merrin had wanted to, before putting a cushion behind her back on the sofa while Merrin did as she was asked and jumped up and retrieved a log from the wicker basket with the frayed edge and tossed it into the grate, before settling back under the blanket.

Heather held her gaze and answered slowly. ‘It’s . . . it’s from your dad. A letter from your dad.’

‘Oh!’ Merrin felt her stomach fold with loss and didn’t know if she could bear to listen. Ruby whimpered softly and buried her face in her hands.

Heather Kellow cleared her throat and began.

Bloody doctors! I told them this heart has faced storms, the wildest seas you can imagine, and even the wrath of my missus when I’ve come home late and dinner is spoilt! It’s seen me right every day of my life and now they’re telling me it’s failing? Load of old baloney! But just in case, I figured I’d better get some stuff down on paper and send a copy off to our shark of a solicitor!

Heather paused to catch her breath, and looked briefly at her and Ruby sitting close together as she smoothed the letter in her palm. The wood in the grate flared into life. Merrin, like her sister, was in tears before her mother read another word. The ache to see her dad was physical.

My Girls, this is a letter I don’t want to write; in fact, I hate writing all letters, as you know, and I ain’t too keen on receiving them, neither. But such is my love for you all I will give it my best. First thing to say, that Dr Levington is a born idiot! I need to put that in writing so that when I might find these sheets of paper tucked away in my bedside drawer as I wait for me telegram from our trusty monarch, I can rightfully say, ‘I told you so!’ But that aside, Levington reckons me old ticker is on the blink. I did suggest a good old squirt of WD40, as in my experience it fixes most things, but he looked at me like I was the idiot, if you can believe that!

Heather shook her head and took a moment, as if to let a chirp of happiness form in her breast. Ruby let out a half-laugh and Merrin joined her. It was some skill that Ben had: the ability to make them laugh in this, the saddest of moments, to raise their spirits and offer some small relief when they needed it the most.