‘What did it say?’ Her curiosity surged along with her fear; did she really want to know if Jarvis had made some misplaced declaration? She knew it could only make her feel awkward in his company and stoke the fires of her sister’s ire.

‘It said’ – Ruby swallowed – ‘something along the lines of, “Have a nice day, but if things with Digby don’t work out, then I will always be there for you.”’

‘Well, that was kind. He is kind. Maybe he had a sixth sense.’ She felt more than a little bit uncomfortable, but figured it could have been worse.

‘It felt like . . .’ Ruby chose her words slowly. ‘It felt like he was saying, “Pick me, Merry! Pick me!”’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! Of course he wasn’t! That’s nuts. He was just being a good friend, being funny. Don’t forget he wrote it thinking Digby and I were going to open it together; he’d hardly have written that if he was being serious, would he?’ she reasoned.

‘I guess not. It just hurts me, because I always liked him, loved him even, and the thought that he might have had deep feelings for you—’

‘He didn’t.’ She spoke sharply. ‘We were kids, and if Digby and I had opened that card you would never have seen it and never have had those crackers thoughts. Have you asked Jarvis about it?’

‘Yes. He said he doesn’t even remember writing it.’

‘There we go!’

‘I think about it a lot,’ Ruby confessed.

‘Well, don’t. Stop it! It’s stupid and destructive and we’ve just lost our dad – our family’s got a little bit smaller, and Dad’s right: we need to be tight and close and supportive. We have never needed each other more than we do right now. We need to look after each other, hold each other close, celebrate the good and not dwell on the bad. That’s what he said.’

‘You’re right.’ Ruby nodded. ‘I’m tired of feeling mad at you because of my own stupid insecurity. It’s like it’s built up. It started as a joke when we were kids, but then I didn’t know how to stop it, how to be different. I do love you, Merry.’

‘And I love you.’ She felt a lightness to her being as Ruby’s posture softened and she and her sister sat quietly in an atmosphere of calm.

‘I wish my babby had met Dad.’ Her lips trembled.

Merrin reached for her hand and held it, mitten to mitten. ‘I remember saying once to him that I wished Gramps was here, and he told me he was, and I think the same. I think Dad’s here with us, and so are Gran and Gramps; I think they always will be.’

‘I think so too.’ Ruby wiped her nose on her sleeve. ‘We’re going to be okay, aren’t we, Merry?’