‘Jude, I’m so sorry,’ she said, her eyes red and forlorn. ‘Your lovely, wonderful dad.’ Arms still held out – waiting tentatively, it seemed, for a hug – she continued, ‘I had to come.’

Judith began to shake.

‘You said you weren’t going to!’ whispered Catrin, panicking, aware that Judith was becoming breathless at the sight of Lana standing there.

‘It was you who told me to!’ Lana whispered back, defensive, clearly feeling foolish at how badly her actions were backfiring.

The situation was horrendous. A social faux pas extraordinaire. The gesture was, of course, well meant – and true, Catrin had encouraged it, but this had been a big mistake on her part too. The only thing she could be grateful for in the moment was that Lana hadn’t shouted out, ‘SURPRISE!’

The queue of mourners was building up behind Lana. A short, plump woman in a black veil was waiting her turn to pay her respects.

Gareth put his arm defensively around Judith’s shoulders and, leaning in to Lana, he said calmly, ‘You’re unbelievable. It’s her father’s funeral, for God’s sake!’

‘It’s all right, Gar,’ said Judith, composing herself, politely shaking hands with Lana and indicating with her body language that she should now move on. ‘Thank you for coming. Very kind.’ She could have been talking to a complete stranger.

Catrin watched as Judith turned to the widow who was waiting patiently behind Lana. But Lana didn’t budge.

‘The thing is, Jude,’ she mumbled, and Catrin could feel the tension rise. Now was not the time for a discussion, for God’s sake!

‘Just leave, Lana, will you?’ hissed Gareth.

‘But I need to explain something …’

‘Lana, let’s you and me talk outside, yeah?’ urged Catrin gently.

‘It’s just I didn’t come on my own,’ said Lana, ‘I came with—’

And Catrin gasped as she registered the sight before her.

‘Patricia!’ she said a little too loudly.

And sure enough, the veiled woman – no longer veiled, her face on show for all to see – was indeed Patricia.

She seemed oblivious to the disturbance she was causing. Or was she actually enjoying it?

‘My darling child,’ Patricia said, forcing Judith into a hug. ‘Your poor, poor papa.’

Catrin fought an involuntary desire to laugh. Why was Patricia talking like this? More to the point, why on God’s earth was she here?

A flurry of whispering amongst the mourners quickly established that the mystery mourner was indeed George’s first wife, and when Cleo understood this, she shouted out in Greek, lunging in Patricia’s direction.

Gareth stepped between the two women as the solemnity of the condolences line-up began to spiral into chaos.

And in the centre of it all, overwhelmed by the combination of seeing her estranged friend and her narcissist mother at the funeral of her beloved father, Judith finally surrendered to the excessive emotional pressure.

And walked out of the church.

42

Lana

After waving Catrin off at Cardiff airport, Lana had sighed and put her head on the steering wheel. The thought of calling to see Patricia to break the news of George’s death did not fill her with glee. But she’d promised Catrin she would. And the sooner she headed back to Coed Celyn, the sooner she could get it done.