They followed everyone inside and found their seats.

‘Godparents down the front,’ said one of the sidesmen, so they obliged.

She noticed that Catrin was looking exceptionally nervous. She couldn’t work out why – it wasn’t like it was a wedding or anything. She put it down to anxiety at having so many friends and family gathered in the same place at the same time.

Father O’Leary began the service. Catrin, she observed, kept looking over her shoulder. Was she checking that everyone was there?

‘And now may I ask members of the family, along with the godparents, to make their way to the font at the back of the church.’

Judith caught the eye of Sol’s brother Tom and smiled – today they were sharing a solemn promise to bring up Romy in the name of Jesus Christ. Blimey, she thought.

As they settled into their positions, Father O’Leary handed out several laminated A5 cards that bore the words of the Sacrament of Baptism. He gently lifted Romy from the comfortable nest of her father’s firm hold and ascended the two steps of the font. With Romy tucked into the crook of his left arm, his right hand was free to bless the water. ‘In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost—’

But he didn’t get any further, interrupted by a disturbance at the side door. All heads turned to locate the source of the kerfuffle, and Judith caught the sound of urgent, whispered apologies. A flurry of ‘Sorry, sorry … Can I just … Where’s the … So sorry I’m late.’ And suddenly a woman was rushing down the aisle towards the font. Judith saw her before she saw Judith.

It was Lana.

Judith grabbed hold of Tom’s arm, steadying herself. Shocked at the impact of seeing her one-time friend again after all this time. She looked at Catrin, gobsmacked. But her gaze wasn’t returned.

‘Are you one of the guests?’ asked Father O’Leary.

People began whispering.

‘Yes, I’m the godmother,’ Lana said breathlessly as someone handed her an order of service.

But then she saw Judith. And stopped in her tracks.

‘What the …?’

Catrin interrupted before Lana could finish. ‘Shall we carry on?’ she said to Father O’Leary, her voice quivering.

‘Right. Now then’ – he indicated to Lana – ‘if you’d like to take your place with the other godparents …?’

Everything stood still.

Lana stared at Judith.

Judith stared at Lana.

‘Larn?’ whispered Catrin, and she beckoned her over to join them.

With the pressure of thirty pairs of eyes upon her, Lana seemingly had no option other than to do what Catrin asked. She looked down as she settled next to Judith, who was aware of the strong smell of perfume mixed with cigarettes.

She still smokes, then, Judith thought.

The service continued.

Judith couldn’t take any of it in, focusing hard on not making eye contact with Lana. Romy started crying when the holy water was audaciously poured over her head three times.