‘But here’s the worrying bit …’ interjected Jack.

‘Go on,’ said Gareth as he slowly fed himself modest mouthfuls of soup.

‘Well, apparently Adrian is a bit too fond of the ole whisky, and on one occasion he was seen taking Nana to town in her wheelchair …’

‘He often takes her out for the day though, doesn’t he?’ sniffed Gareth.

‘Yeah, but get this – so they’re out and about in town, and Edwina sees them from the other side of the high street. And she says Adrian is weaving all over the pavement, like he’s pissed. Next thing, the wheels of the chair catch on something and Nana goes flying!’

‘She ended up on her hands and knees outside Poundland,’ added Dom.

Gareth tried not to laugh. ‘Sorry, go on.’

‘No, I know, it’s horrible,’ said Judith, ‘but also a bit sort of Laurel and Hardy. Anyway, Edwina rushes over to help and Adrian gets really nasty, says he’s got the whole thing under control and to back off. She says she could smell the whisky on him from a hundred paces.’

‘Blimey!’

‘Cut to a couple of days later,’ continued Jack, ‘and Edwina pops round to visit—’

‘I thought she’d been sacked?’

‘No, this is before the sacking. So Nana’s there on her own, which is why Edwina reckons she’ll talk a bit more freely. Turns out she had a visit the night before.’

‘Who, Edwina?’

‘No, Patricia,’ replied Dom. ‘A visit from Adrian’s mother! She gives Patricia a dressing-down, telling her to stop feeding her boy whisky, that she’s got no right, that he’s only a fucking recovering alcoholic and has been going to AA for the past two years!’

‘Bloody hell!’

‘I know, right?’ said Jack, incredulous. ‘So she’s had to hide all the whisky in the house and promise not to let him go near the stuff.’

‘And you definitely don’t think there’s anything, y’know, romantic going on?’

‘Well, I’ve always thought not,’ said Judith, ‘but Edwina said on another occasion she called round and Adrian answered the door all a-fluster, and very red in the face … and the way they look at each other, is like they’re teenagers in love, calling each other “babe” and “sweetheart” and stuff.’

‘Dear God, no!’

‘Gar, it does all sound dodgy, doesn’t it?’

‘You can say that again.’

‘Anyway,’ said Jack calmly, ‘we’re gonna leave early tomorrow and pay Nana a visit. I think we need to take this situation in hand, starting with persuading her to grant Mum lasting power of attorney. That way we can rein in any designs this Adrian fellow has on her. And if he’s kosher, then great. But better to be safe, eh?’

It was at times like this that Judith was extra glad of her son’s invaluable expertise, him being a highly accomplished property lawyer.

‘Don’t worry, Mum. We all know I can wrap her round my little finger,’ he assured her. ‘We’ll get this sorted.’

And with that, Gareth did a God-almighty sneeze in agreement.