‘And who agreed to it?’

‘The prime minister.’

Rose whistled quietly. She shook her head. Kate waited for the rest, but she was pretty sure she knew what was coming. ‘Are you sure that getting back together with Stuart is what you want?’

‘You’ve seen how happy it makes—’

‘Oh, I know it’s what the kids dream of, though if you ask me, Fiona’s beginning to have her doubts. Her enthusiasm waxes and wanes more than her brother’s and there are moments when I think the hurt of his betrayal is becoming evident. I can understand, though, why you wouldn’t wish to rip all that joy – or potential happiness, at least – from their hearts. But it’s never going to work unless it’s what you want, too.’

Kate refilled their glasses. They were both gulping it down. ‘It is.’

‘You don’t sound very sure, if I may say so.’

Kate stared at the table, avoiding her aunt’s penetrating gaze. ‘The thought that their dad will never be able to return to this country is destroying them. Maybe it’s even encouraging them to hang on to an idealized version of him. So I figure that if I have a chance to get him back in here, the rest will have to take care of itself.’

‘It would kill them to have their hearts broken a second time,’ Rose said.

Kate nodded. Rose was right, which was why this issue had barely strayed from her mind since she’d left the South of France. What moment of madness had led her to make those promises? ‘I do miss him,’ she said. It was the best she could conjure just now.

‘I miss our old postman down in the country,’ Rose said. ‘It’s not quite the same thing as being bound together for the rest of your lives, long after the children have left home even.’

‘What would you do?’

‘It’s not my decision to make.’

‘But …’ Kate stalled. ‘I mean, forgive me for asking. I can’t imagine Simon doing anything of the kind, but did you ever have anything similar?’

For a moment, just the trace of a shadow shimmered in Rose’s gaze before she quickly recovered her poise. ‘I did spend many agonized hours discussing your father’s situation after he discovered your mother had been having an affair with his best friend.’

The shadow, Kate concluded, was her aunt’s fear that she was about to make the same mistake. ‘You’re saying he made the wrong choice by staying with her?’

‘He did it for you. And I’m not sure it made him happy.’

‘But—’

‘I think you have to ask yourself if you’ve really forgiven him. If the answer is truly, honestly, yes – and you’re certain you can find a way back to the love you once had – then, of course, you should carry on down this road. But if, as I suspect, the true answer is no – or even “don’t know” – then I think you’d be most unwise to pursue a reconciliation, for the children’s sake as much as your own.’ Rose looked at her. ‘I love you to pieces. You know that. But I’m just not sure you’re the forgiving kind. And even if you were, it would be a huge ask.’